Skip to main content

Full text of "Annals of Wyoming"

See other formats 


•fkw*' 


STATE  OF  WYOMINQ, 

HISTORICAL  DEPARTMENT 


QUARTERLY  BULLETIN 


rol.  2 


Cheyenne,  July  15,  1924 


No.  1 


1ARLY  HISTORY  OF 

FREMONT  COUNTY 

By  H.  G.  NICKERSON 

(Written    in    1886) 

The  Indian  tribes  occupying  the  section 
nbraced  within  the  limits  of  what  is  now 
remont  County,  when  first  discovered  by 
men,    were    the    Crow    nation    up    to 


hite 


$54,  and  since  then  by  the  Shoshones,  Ban 
jck  and  Arapahoe  tribes. 

In  1854  the  Crows  and  Shoshones  met  in 
ittle  at  Crow  Heart  Butte  on  Big  Wind 
ver,  the  Crows  led  by  Big  Robber,  and  the 
loshones  by  Washakie,  in  which  engage- 
ent  the  Crows  were  defeated  with  loss  of 
>me  fifty  warriors  and  two  children  pris- 
i£*s^  one  a  girl,  who  is  now  the  wife  of 
hief  Washakie  of  the  Shoshones,  the  Sho- 
tones  losing  only  some  five  or  six  killed, 
nee  that  time  these  tribes  have  been  peace- 
>ly  disposed  toward  each  other,  and  the 
loshones  have  held  this  country  against  all 
mers,  the  Sioux,  Cheyennes  and  Arapahoes 
iding  them  occasionally,  when  short  en- 
gements  were  had,  in  which  a  few  Indians 
)uld  be  killed  or  wounded. 
In  one  of  these  Chief  Washakie  lost  his 
vorite  and  eldest  son  near  Strawberry, 
ashakie  chiding  his  son  for  being  slow  in 
eparing  for  battle  with  the  approaching 
oux,  the  young  warrior  sprang  upon  his 
ir  horse  and  rushed  boldly  on  to  the  ap- 
oaching  hostiles  and  met  his  death,  ap- 
rently  with  full  intent  to  do  so. 
Lewis  and  Clarke,  the  first  explorers,  came 

the  Yellowstone  in  1806.     Gave  the  name 

Clarks  Fork  to  one  branch  of  same  and 
me  into  the  Wind  River  valley.  Prior  to 
46  many  trappers  and  hunters  came  into 
s  section,  and  what  is  now  Fremont  Coun- 

among  whom  were  Jim  Bridger,  Jack 
ibinson,  Kit  Carson,  La  Jeunesse  Brothers, 
d  Papin  and  Company.  In  1846  General 
emont,  after  whom  this  county  was  named, 
plored  this  section,  climbing  the  highest 
ik  of  the  Wind  River  range,  giving  his 
me  to  same;  and  he  was  the  first  to  map 
d  make  a  survey  and  make  it  known  to 
:  world.  In  1859  General  Lander  made  a 
•vey  and  led  a  party  through.  Captain 
nneville  also  explored  here  in  early  days; 
o  General  Reynolds  and  Lieutenant  May- 
ler. 

rhe  experience  of  emigrants  from  1847  to 
iO  was  full  of  interest;  sometimes  they 
>sed  through  friendly  tribes  of  IjAus  and 
rids  of  wild  game;  again  fig|fung\their 
y  step  by  step  thro 
>ux,  Arapahoes,  Cheyen 

; 


U£k 

nr«s 
fit 


Shoshones.  Many  emigrants,  hunters,  trap- 
pers and  explorers  were  killed  by  the  In- 
dians, of  which  no  record  was  ever  kept. 
Mounds  of  stone  and  decaying  headboards 
frequently  mark  the  resting  place  of  those 
killed  along  the  line  of  the  emigrant  road. 

Chief  of  the  trappers  and  prospectors  first 
within  the  limits  of  this  country  or  any  oth- 
er were  Kit  Carson,  Jim  Bridger,  La  Jeu- 
nesse, Sorrell,  Guerrie,  Beaurais,  Dock  Leon- 
ard, William  McCabe,  Frank  Lone,  J.  B. 
Macomber,  A.  A.  Conant,  Joseph  Cornett, 
John  Luman,  O.  S.  Clarks  and  many  others 
who  early  explored,  hunted,  trapped  and  pros- 
pected  in   this  country. 

The  first  prospectors  and  locators  of  mines 
at  South  Pass  were  from  Salt  Lake.  In  the 
summer  of  1867  men  reached  South  Pass  and 
located  the  famous  Clarissa  mine,  and  on  the 
10th  of  August  they  were  attacked  by  In- 
dians. They  killed  Captain  Lawrence  at  the 
Clarissa  mine,  killed  Tony  Sholes  at  Sweet- 
water and  captured  a  man  by  the  name  of 
Taylor,  whom  they  burned  at  the  stake  about 
two  miles  back,  or  north  of  South  Pass.  They 
captured  23  head  of  horses  and  drove  out 
the  prospectors,  who  returned  in  September 
with  large  reinforcements  and  have  held  the 
county  since. 

In  the  summer  of  1868  Jeff  Standifer,  an 
old  western  explorer,  prospector  and  Indian 
fighter,  left  South  Pass  and  Atlantic  with  six 
other  men  from  these  places  to  prospect  on 
the  head  of  Wind  River.  On  the  28th  day 
of  June  while  in  camp  on  Big  Wind  river 
near  the  mountains,  they  were  attacked  by 
a  large  party  of  Indians  so  suddenly  that 
they  could  not  secure  their  horses,  which 
were  near  camp  and  had  not  even  time  to 
make  defense.  Hank  Lehman  was  killed  in 
camp,  McAuley  was  killed  near  by,  Moore 
and  Duncan  made  their  escape  for  a  time 
by  swimming  the  river,  but  were  followed  to 
Bull  Lake,  ten  miles,  and  were  there  killed, 
their  remains  being  found  some  years  after- 
ward and  buried  at  the  head  of  Bull  Lake. 
Standifer  and  one  man  escaped  to  the  moun- 
tains and  made  their  way  into  South  Pass, 
Standifer  slightly  wounded  in  the  hand;  Andy 
Newman,  the  present  survivor  of  the  party, 
after  great  hardship  and  exposure,  made  his 
way  into  Little  Wind  River  Valley  (now 
Shoshone  Agency)  where  a  few  men  had 
located  agricultural  claims  and  were  there 
camped.     He  presented  a  pitiful  appearance, 


early  starved  and  almost 
,  bus  JeeLlacerated  and'fu 
1^  wa^provided  for  and  he  then 


to   South   Pass. 


{Copyright  applied   for.      Copying  privileges 
granted   by   the   State   Historian) 


QUARTERLY  BULLETIN 

Published  by  the  Wyoming  State  Historical 
Department 


State  Historical  Board 
Governor — William  B.  Ross 
Secretary  of  State — F.  E.  Lucas 
State  Librarian — Flo  La  Chapelle 

State  Historian — Mrs.  Cyrus  Beard 
Secretary  of  the  Board 

Advisory  Board 
Rt.  Rev.  P.  A.  McGovern,  Cheyenne 
Dr.  Grace  R.  Hebard,  Laramie 
Mr.  P.  W.  Jenkins,  Cora 
Mrs.  Willis  M.  Spear,  Sheridan 
Mr.  R.  D.  Hawley,  Douglas 
Miss  Margery  Ross,  Cody 
Mrs.  E.  T.  Raymond,  Newcastle 
Mr.  E.  H.  Fourt,  Lander 

Contents 
Early  History  of  Fremont  County 

H.  G.  Nicker  son 

Scenic  Conditions  in  Fremont  County 

E.  H.  Fourt 

Letters  A.  C.  Beckwith 

Pioneer  Experiences  in  Wyoming 

A.  L.  Brock 

Accessions  April  to  July 


On  the  second  of  June  the  little  party  of 
seven  in  Wind  River  Valley  were  attacked 
by  the  same  Indians  so  suddenly  that  they 
could  not  save  their  horses,  all  of  which 
were  stolen.  Henry  Lusk  was  surrounded 
by  Indians,  but  being  well  armed  stood  them 
off,  escaping  with  a  broke  narm,  shot  by  the 
Indians.  Sage  C.  Nickerson  was  a  short 
distance  away  looking  after  the  horses,  who 
seeing  the  Indians  coming  and  having  no 
weapons  with  him,  ran  to  a  small  stream 
(Squaw  Creek),  got  into  the  willows,  then 
in  the  stream,  and  the  banks  being  steep  and 
overhanging,  he  managed  to  get  under  the 
water  with  only  enough  of  his  head  out  (but 
under  the  bank)  to  breathe.  There  he  re- 
mained while  the  Indians  searched  up  and 
down  the  stream  for  him  but  they  could  not 
find  him,  so  they  shot  the  dog  that  was 
barking  around  near  where  he  was  and  which 
might  have  told  the  Indians  of  his  hiding 
place.  They  took  all  his  horses,  some  of 
which  were  fine  and  valuable,  and  did  not 
leave  until  the  night  was  nearly  over.  The 
others  of  the  party  went  to  look  for  Nicker- 
son, whom  they  supposed  was  killed,  and  af- 
ter a  long  search  they  found  him  more  dead 
than  alive  from  remaining  so  long  in  the 
water,  he  supposing  the  Indians  to  be  still 
there. 

On  the  1st  day  of  August,  1868,  the  hostile 
Indians  attacked  Uncle  Ben  Hurst  and  Dave 
Hayes  eleven  miles  below  the  three  crossings 
of  Sweetwater.  They  were  bringing  in  some 
groceries  for  William  Tweed  of  South  Pass 
and  had  one  yoke  of  cattle.  The  Indians 
shot    and    fatally    wounded    Hayes    while    he 


was  in  bed  on  the  ground.  Hurst  being  in 
bed  in  the  wagon,  they  did  not  see  him;  he 
got  out  and  stood  the  Indians  off,  they  mak- 
ing repeated  assaults.  He  then  fixed  Hayes 
up  as  best  he  could,  piled  rocks  around  him, 
gave  him  a  gun  and  ammunition,  told  him  to 
do  the  best  he  could  and  he  (Hurst)  would 
go  to  South  Pass  for  help.  He  had  no 
sooner  left  the  wagon  than  the  Indians  charg- 
ed upon  it,  killing  Hayes  and  helping  them- 
selves to  whatever  they  wanted.  Hurst  then 
took  the  cattle  and  left  for  South  Pass.  He 
being  an  old  English  sportsman  and  a  good 
shot,  could  keep  them  at  a  safe  distance,  so 
he  made  his  way  into  South  Pass,  driving 
the  cattle  before  him.  A  Mormon  train  came 
along,  found  the  body  of  Hayes  and  buried 
it,  and  left  after  helping  themselves  to  what 
they  wanted  from  the   wagon. 

On  Hurst's  arrival  at  South  Pass,  William 
Tweed  accompanied  by  William  Rose  and 
Mike  Welch,  started  after  the  wagon  and 
goods.  When  they  got  there  they  found  the 
wagon  plundered.  They  waited  four  days 
for  Uncle  Hurst  to  come  with  the  team,  he 
having  started  back  with  a  three  yoke  team 
of  oxen  in  company  with  Major  N.  Baldwin, 
merchant  of  South  Pass,  who  was  going  to 
Benton  (then  the  terminus  of  the  U.  P.  R. 
R.)  after  freight  with  two  yoke  of  oxen 
teams,  with  two  drivers  named  Steve  Van 
Camp  and  Leach  and  two  passengers.  They 
were  attacked  by  the  Indians  at  Ice  Springs 
on  Sweetwater  and  driven  back  after  a  spir- 
ited engagement  in  which  Uncle  Hurst  was 
wounded  in  his  heel  and  Leach  in  his  back, 
the  Major  standing  up  in  the  wagons  and: 
keeping  up  a  stream  of  fire  on  the  Indians, 
while  the  teams  turned  and  retreated  back  to 
South  Pass  in  safety.  Tweed  and  party  af- 
ter waiting  days  for  the  teams  started  back 
to  South  Pass  and  were  attacked  by  the  In-| 
dians  at  Three  Crossings  of  Sweetwater^ 
Rose,  being  mounted  on  a  fine  race  horse,j 
thought  he  could  outrun  the  Indians,  being| 
followed  by  Wright,  who  overtook  him  in  a 
race  of  one  and  a  half  miles  and  shot  him  in) 
the  back  of  his  head.  Welch's  horse  was  shot) 
under  him  and  he  escaped  into  the  brush  and 
got  away.  Tweed's  mule  took  fright,  rani 
fell  down,  threw  him  off  and  the  Indians) 
then  surrounded  him  and  shot  him  slightly) 
in  the  back.  He  shot  one  with  a  shot  gun,j 
cutting  him  nearly  in  two,  then  rushedj 
through  their  line,  crossed  a  slough  which) 
they  could  not  cross  while  mounted,  got  into 
the  river  and  brush,  and  after  a  day  and  two 
nights  reached  South  Pass  nearly  exhausted.; 

In  May,  1869,  the  Indians  raided  Littles 
Popagie,  robbed  the  Stone  ranch  wherei 
Frank  Morehouse  lived,  killed  him  near  by 
on  the  road  over  to  Cottonwood  and  took 
from  his  body  some  $1,500.00.  They  next) 
met  Mountain  Bill  Rhodes,  an  old  western) 
pioneer  and  miner,  with  a  four  horse  team,; 
killed  and  stripped  him,  leaving  him  dead| 
in  his  wagon;  cut  his  horses  out  of  the  har-| 
ness  and  took  them  away.  Near  the  samei 
place  on  Cottonwood  they  met  and  killedi 
Dutch  Henry,  as  well  as  the  mule  he  was 
riding.  At  the  same  time  on  Cottonwood* 
and  on  what  is  now  the  Phil  Wisser  ranch.) 
they  found  a  peaceable,  harmless  old  French- 


man,  named  Devereux,  planting  potatoes  in 
his  garden.  '  They  surrounded  him,  beat  him 
down,  took  the  mattock  with  which  he  was 
working,  drove  it  into  his  stomach,  twisting 
and  pulling  his  intestines  out  while  he  ap- 
parently was  yet  alive  and  begging  for  mercy. 
In  this  condition  he  was  found  and  buried 
where  he  died,  and  now  the  ground  is  cul- 
tivated over  his  remains  and  no  one  can 
point  out  the  spot.  His  house  was  plundered 
of  everything  the  inhuman  fiends  desired  to 
take  away.  In  this  raid  considerable  stock 
was  stolen  from  various  parties. 

On  August  20th,  1869,  a  man  by  the  name 
oi  Camp  was  killed  near  the  canyon  of  Lit- 
tle Wind  River.  Three  horses,  two  rifles, 
pis  clothing,  ammunition,  provisions,  etc., 
were  taken.  The  same  day  a  man  by  the 
lame  of  Lask  was  wounded  below  the  Hot 
Springs  on   Little  Wind  River. 

On  September  29,  1869,  John  G.  Anderson 
yas  killed  near  Miners  Delight  while  hauling 
ime.  On  the  same  day  a  man  named  Lath- 
im  was  killed  while  chopping  wood  on  Big 
\tlantic  Gulch.  On  this  raid  four  men,  Aus- 
in  and  Alkire  Brothers  were  surrounded  at 
he  crossing  of  Beaver  near  Miners  Delight 
ly  seventeen  Indians.  The  firing  being  heard 
I  Miners  Delight,  Captain  Nickerson  speed- 
ly— collected  seven  men  and  ran  to  their  res- 
:ue,  finding  them  closely  surrounded.  A 
ew  volleys  drove  the  Indians  off;  the  men 
vere  found  to  be  unhurt,  but  they  would 
oon  have  been  taken  as  their  ammunition 
vas  nearly  all  gone. 

On  March  31,  1870,  Frank  Irwin  was 
filled  on  Little  Atlantic  Gulch,  near  Atlantic 
pity.  William  S.  Bennington  and  James 
)thicks  were  killed  on  Smith's  Gulch  near 
jirhere  Fort  Stambaugh  was  afterward  built 
nd  on  the  same  day  Eugene  Fosberry,  John 
»IcGuire  and  Anson  B.  Kellogg  were  killed 
t  St.  Mary's  Station  on  Sweetwater.  Kel- 
3gg  lost  two  valuable  horses,  harness,  pro- 
isions,  etc.  These  men  were  all  terribly 
lutilated  and  the  place  where  they  were 
lurdered  showed  evidence  of  a  long  and  hard 
truggle. 

On  April  7th,  1870,  what  is  known  as  the 
U-apahoe  raid,  or  raid  on  the  Arapahoes, 
ook  place.  The  Arapahoe  tribe,  numbering 
ome  four  or  five  hundred  warriors,  by  the 
idvice  of  Governor  Campbell,  then  Governor 
|f  Wyoming,  and  the  reluctant  consent  of 
tie  Shoshone  tribe  had  come  upon  the  Sho- 
hone  reservation  and  were  camped  on  Big 
wind  River  about  thirty  miles  below  where 
ie  town  of  Lander  now  stands.  They  prom- 
lied  friendly  relations  with  the  Shoshones 
nd  the  white  settlers  and  miners,  also  prom- 
ing  to  notify  both  of  the  coming  of  any 
f  the  northern  hostiles  with  whom  they 
rere  at  peace.  Neither  these  promises  were 
ept,  for  after  their  coming,  the  stealing  of 
:ock  and  killing  of  whites  continued  and 
as  credited  to  the  Sioux  and  Cheyennes. 
ut  it  was  suspicioned  that  the  Arapahoes 
here  committing  the  depredations  or  a  part 
I  them,  or  to  say  the  very  least  would  not 
form  on  other  Indians  who  might  be  guilty 
'ii;he  crimes.  But  as  stolen  stock  was  found 
|  -their  camp,  they  claiming  to  have  bought 

from  other   Indians,   they   no   doubt  were 


the   guilty   parties.      And    in   order   to   ascer- 
tain  the  facts,   Captain   H.   G.    Nickerson  of 
Miner's   Delight  went  alone  as  a  spy  to  the 
Arapahoe   camp   on   the   31st   day   of   March, 
1870.      Being    well    acquainted    with    Friday, 
a  sub  chief,  he  went  to  his  camp  where  he 
had  a  small  following  of  some  twenty  lodgers 
situated   about   five   hundred  yards   from   the 
main  camp  under  Medicine  Man.     Nickerson 
had  saved  Friday's  life  in  the  late  fall  before. 
While  Friday  was  visiting  the  mining  towns 
he   drank   too   much   whiskey,    lost    his   road 
between    Atlantic    and    Miner's    Delight    and 
fell   from    his    horse.      The   horse    came   into 
Miner's    Delight.      Nickerson   recognizing   it, 
went  back  on  the  track,  found  Friday  help- 
less,  brought    him    in    and    took    him    to    his 
house.     One  foot  was  frozen  so  he  lost  the 
large   toe.     Captain    Nickerson   provided   for 
him  until  he  was  able  to  go  to  his  camp  on 
Wind  River.     This  humane  act  saved  Nick- 
erson's   life   while   in    Friday's   camp,   for   he 
easily  made  Friday  believe  he  was  there  on 
a  peaceful  mission,  while  the  Indians  in  Medi- 
cine Man's  camp  devined  his  real  object  and 
insisted    and    demanded    that    he    should    be 
killed.     This,  Friday  bravely  refused  to  allow, 
keeping  Nickerson  in  his  own  lodge  and  keep- 
ing most  of  the  threatening  Indians  outside. 
This    continued   until    nearly   morning   when 
the  Indians  left,  apparently  satisfied  with  Fri- 
day's explanations,  but  he  detected  their  plan, 
which  was  to  waylay  Nickerson  and  kill  him 
on   the   road   when   he   left   in   the   morning. 
To  avoid  this,  Friday  got  him  ready  just  be- 
fore daybreak,  sent  a  faithful  brave  with  him 
in     an     opposite     direction     with     instruction 
which  way  to  go  after  leaving  the  river,  mak- 
ing a  long  detour  and  coming  on  to  the  home 
trail  far  beyond  the  Indians  lying  in  wait  for 
him.      In  this  manner  he  escaped  and  April 
Fooled  the  Indians,  but  learned  while  in  the 
camp  of  the  Arapahoes,  that  Little  Shield,  a 
young  war  chief,  and  all  of  the  young  war- 
riors were  out  of  camp  and  over  on  Sweet- 
water, as  the  Indians  said,  on  a  buffalo  hunt. 
The  next  day,  after  a  hard  ride  he  reached 
home  and  first  learned  of  the  killing  at  St. 
Mary's,  and  Atlantic  City  above  mentioned, 
which  was  done  on  the  same  day  he  reached 
the    Indians'   camp.      It   is   now  believed   by 
all  that  the  Arapahoes  were  doing  the  killing 
and  a  force  of  about  two  hundred  and  sev- 
enty-five   men    were    speedily    raised,    well 
armed  and  equipped,  and  on  the  7th  of  April 
reached     Big     Popoagie     Valley.     One     Bill 
Smith,  a  reckless  and  desperate  man  (killed 
a    year    later    in    Atlantic    City    in    a    street 
brawl),  was  chosen  Commander-in-Chief  be- 
cause of  his  fearless  and  dare-devil  disposi- 
tion, although  he  had  never  been  in  the  Arap- 
ahoe   camp   and   knew   nothing   about   them. 
He  took  the  seventy-five  mounted  men,  plac- 
ed  Nickerson  in  command  of  the   two  hun- 
dred  foot   men,   the   wagon   train   and   navy 
yard,  with  orders  to  follow  down  the  river 
after  him.     He  struck  out  in  the  early  morn- 
ing  in    full    daylight    to    find   and    annihilate 
the  Indians,  while  the  Indians  could  see  him 
approaching  for  twenty  miles.     He,  however, 
met  Black  Bear  and  his  squaw  and  a  small 
band  of  Arapahoes  coming  up  to  the  Camp 
Brown  (where  Lander  now  stands)  to  trade. 


He  killed  Chief  Black  Bear  and  all  of  the 
grown  male  Indians  and  two  squaws,  letting 
two  squaws  escape  to  go  back  to  the  main 
camp  to  give  the  alarm.  There  were  killed 
in  all  fourteen  bucks,  two  squaws  and  one 
squaw  and  child,  Black  Bear's  and  seven 
children  captured.  These  children  were  af- 
terwards placed  in  families  and  raised  among 
the  whites,  one  returning  to  the  Shoshone 
Agency  in  1884  a  full  fledged  Episcopal  min- 
ister. He  found  at  this  Agency  the  Arapahoe 
tribe  and  among  them  his  mother.  Their  rec- 
ognition was  mutual,  although  he  had  grown 
to  manhood  since  last  she  saw  him.  After 
the  killing  of  the  Indians  on  Big  Popoagie 
the  two  squaws  escaped,  ran  back  to  the 
camp  and  gave  the  alarm.  The  Indians  at 
once  pulled  up  stakes  and  left.  The  poor 
weary  footmen  after  a  forty  mile  tramp  came 
into  Smith's  camp  on  Big  Wind  River  where 
he  had  made  up  large  fires  and  the  Indians 
could  easily  have  returned  in  the  night  and 
killed  or  driven  awr-  the  whole  party,  but 
they  were  in  full  retreat  and  too  badly  fright- 
ened to  come  back  in  force.  About  fifteen 
or  twenty  came  back  and  fired  into  Smith's 
big  camp  fires,  causing  them  to  be  put  ef- 
fectually, speedily  and  permanently  out.  The 
expedition  returned  home  worse  than  a  fail- 
ure, for  instead  of  annihilating  the  Indians, 
as  they  easily  could  have  done  had  they  gone 
in  the  night  time  and  surrounded  the  camp, 
they  only  succeeded  in  making  the  Indians 
more  embittered  and  thirsty  for  revenge 
which  they  fully  obtained  in  the  years  im- 
mediately following. 

In  April,  1870,  William  McCabe  and  James 
Goodson,  two  hunters  and  prospectors,  were 
camped  near  the  head  of  Little  Popoagie 
when  Goodson  went  down  to  the  mouth  of 
the  canyon  to  their  last  camp  to  get  an  old 
coffee  pot  they  had  left.  He  was  attacked 
by  a  small  party  of  Indians,  who  first  in  good 
English  tried  to  persuade  him  to  come  up 
on  the  hill  where  they  were,  but  he,  fearing 
treachery,  would  not  go.  When  they  fired 
on  him  he  managed  to  get  good  cover  and 
killed  Knocknee,  a  well  known  Arapahoe,  and 
one  other  and  severely  wounded  several,  es- 
caping with  only  a  slight  wound  in  the  back. 
The  bodies  of  the  two  dead  Indians  were 
afterwards  found,  one  the  next  day  where 
it  fell  and  the  other  months  afterward  where 
the   Indians  had  thrown  it  in  the  creek. 

On  May  10th,  1870,  the  Indians  attacked 
Jason  Sherman  and  party  at  daylight  on 
Twin  Creek  Hill.  He  had  freight,  teams  and 
cattle.  He  stood  the  Indians  off  but  they 
took  all  his  cattle  grazing  near  by.  Major 
David  Gordon,  commanding  Company  D, 
2nd  Cavalry,  stationed  near  Atlantic  City, 
soon  made  his  appearance  and  pursued  the 
Indians,  and  in  a  hot  engagement  with  them, 
in  which  several  Indians  appeared  to  be  killed 
or  wounded,  Lieutenant  Stambaugh,  after 
whom  Ft.  Stambaugh  was  afterward  named, 
was  shot  dead  from  his  horse,  his  body  falling 
for  a  time  into  the  hands  of  the  Indians  who 
robbed  it  of  a  watch,  ring,  his  revolver  and 
belt,  the  contents  of  his  pockets,  etc.  They 
shot  into  his  body  several  times,  after  which 
the  company  rallied  and  recovered  the  body. 
Sergeant  Brown  was  severely  wounded,  hav- 


ing his  chin  and  part  of  his  jaw  carried  away 
by  a  bullet.  The  Indians  escaped  with  Sher- 
man's cattle  and  much  other  stock  which 
they  picked  up. 

On  June  17,  1870,  Oliver  Lamoureaux  was 
killed  on  the  Point  of  Rocks  road,  some 
thirty  miles  south  of  Atlantic  City.  The  In- 
dians took  from  his  body  a  fine  gold  watch, 
considerably  money  and  two  horses.  John 
Pelon,  an  old  timer  still  living  near  Lander, 
was  with  him  and  made  a  miraculous  escape 
on  the  open  prairie  by  keeping  the  Indians 
at  a  distance  with  a  well  managed  rifle.  Lam- 
oureaux was  killed  by  a  volley  fired  by  the 
Indians  in  ambush. 

August  25,  1870,  the  Indians  killed  Dr. 
Barr,  Harvey  Morgan  and  Jerome  Mason 
near  Willow  Creek,  between  Big  and  Little 
Popoagie,  taking  four  horses  and  a  large 
lot  of  provisions.  These  men  made  a  brave 
stand  and  hard  fight,  but  were  overpowered 
by  the  two  hundred  Arapahoes  that  sur- 
rounded them  where  they  could  get  no  shel- 
ter. Morgan  was  well  known  to  the  Indians, 
having  often  fed  and  befriended  them,  and 
for  his  friendship  he  was  mutilated  in  a  hor- 
rible manner,  the  sinews  being  cut  from  his 
back  and  limbs  for  bow  strings  and  the  queen 
bolt  of  his  wagon  being  driven  so  far  into 
his  forehead  so  that  it  could  not  be  pulled 
out,  but  was  buried  with  him  as  found.  Thisj 
party  of  Indians  then  attacked  W.  A.  Barrett 
at  his  ranch  near  Red  Canyon,  shooting  a 
bullet  through  his  beard,  but  getting  into  his 
dugout  and  being  well  armed  he  stood  them 
off,  and  they  left.  Going  to  South  Pass,  they 
captured  two  hundred  head  of  fine  horses1 
and  mules  belonging  to  the  miners  and  pros- 
pectors, and  in  charge  of  Lawrence  Hunt  and' 
Negro  Joe  who  were  herding  them.  They1 
were  pursued  by  Lieutenant  Robinson  with 
a  company  of  the  2nd  cavalry  from  Fortj 
Washakie,  but  they  made  their  escape  with- 
out loss. 

On  October  9,  1872,  Michael  Henan,  while 
hauling  hay,  was  killed  on  Big  Beaver  Hillj 
near  Miner's  Delight.  From  his  team,  four] 
valuable  mules  were  taken.  At  this  raid  an 
incident  occurred  that  came  near  costing  the; 
lives  of  two  of  the  miners  of  Miner's  Delight. 
The  next  day  after  Hennan  was  killed,  two 
miners  from  Miner's  Delight,  Tom  Logan' 
and  Bobby  Smith,  who  had  gone  hunting., 
failed  to  return,  and  as  it  was  known  that; 
they  had  gone  in  the  direction  the  hostiles' 
had  been,  it  was  supposed  they  too  had  been 
killed.  In  order  to  find  them  and  relieve  them' 
if  alive,  or  bury  them  if  dead,  Captain  Nick- 
erson  raised  a  party  of  nine  men  consisting: 
of  John  Grant,  Joe  Trickey,  John  Hartley,- 
George  McKay,  Ed.  Blanchard,  William  Kin-; 
ner,  Val  Brant,  Arch  Cameron  and  Chris 
Ranley.  Packing  some  supplies  on  an  old 
pinto  pony  that  the  Indians  never  would  take.t 
they  started  on  the  hunt  for  their  lost  com-t 
panions  and  when  some  miles  away,  between 
Strawberry  and  Beaver  Creeks,  they  were 
discovered  by  scouts  from  Fort  Stambaugh 
who  took  them  for  Indians  and  immediately 
signalled  the  alarm  to  the  Fort.  The  reporll 
spread  that  the  country  was  full  of  Indians! 
The  entire  military  and  civilian  forces  weW 
at  once  ordered  out  and  soon  surrounded  tii 


hapless  miners,  who  at  first  thought  it  a  good 
joke  on  the  military  but  soon  realized  their 
eminent  peril  when  they  found  they  could 
not  make  the  forces  surrounding  them  un- 
derstand that  they  were  not  Indians.  They 
were  taken  at  a  great  disadvtange,  being  on 
a  slight  elevation,  with  others  all  around 
them  still  higher.  Now  they  were  complete- 
ly surrounded,  a  company  of  cavalry  below 
them  on  Beaver  Creek  to  their  right,  a  com- 
pany of  infantry  was  deployed  and  advanc- 
ing to  the  left,  a  cestion  of  artillery  was  tak- 
ing position  in  front,  and  nearest  on  the  same 
ridge  was  a  mixed  command  of  soldiers,  citi- 
zens and  employees  of  the  Post.  Nickerson, 
seeing  that  something  must  be  done  prompt- 
ly or  he  and  his  men  would  be  swept  from 
the  face  of  the  earth,  ordered  his  men  to  lay 
first  flat  upon  the  ground  in  the  short  sage 
brush  and  then  he  would  make  another  and 
more  desperate  attempt  to  disclose  to  the 
nearest  troops  who  he  was.  The  party  in 
:ront  were  not  more  than  five  hundred  yards 
iway  at  this  time,  and  he  started  on  a  quick 
walk  towards  them,  alone,  holding  out  his 
*un  in  full  view,  dropping  it  to  the  ground, 
still  advancing  with  uplifted  arms  and  shout- 
ng  to  them  not  to  shoot.  But  he  could  plain- 
y  see  they  intended  to  shoot,  and  one  citizen, 
;hs»  best  shot  <n  the  party,  knelt  down,  took 
deliberate  aim  and  fired,  the  ball  striking 
jnly  a  few  yards  in  front  of  Nickerson,  who 
:ontinued  to  advance,  but  he  could  see  the 
vhole  party  was  now  aiming  to  shoot  and  at 
jhe  first  puff  of  smoke  he  fell  flat  to  the 
jround  and  the  volley  went  over  him  and  fell 
imong  his  comrades,  but  fortunately  hit 
lone.  He  then  jumped  and  ran  back  to  them, 
:aking  his  gun  with  him.  But  one  chance 
low  presented  itself  and  that  was  for  each 
nan  to  break  for  himself  and  get  cover 
vithin  the  cordon  now  around  them  and 
iwait  their  near  approach  so  that  they  could 
alk  and  be  understood.  This  they  did,  gain- 
ng  the  bank  of  beaver  and  concealing  them- 
selves in  the  brush  until  the  troops  came  so 
lear  that  they  could  be  plainly  heard  and 
alked  to,  when  Nickerson  went  out  and  ex- 
ilained  the  situation.  Then  the  troops  re- 
urned  to  the  Post  very  much  disappointed 
it  not  being  able  to  dispose  of  a  band  of  In- 
[ians  so  completely  in  their  power.  In  the 
neantime  the  telegraph  had  flashed  the  news 
;ast  and  west  that  Ft.  Stambaugh  was  be- 
ieged  by  Indians  and  a  terrible  battle  was 
aging.  Logan  and  Smith  came  in  a  day 
til  right,  having  seen  no   Indians. 

On  the  24th  day  of  July,  1873,  Mrs.  Hattie 
lall  and  Mrs.  L.  Richardson  were  killed  and 
hockingly  mutilated  on  Big  Popoagie,  where 
_,ander  now  stands.  Their  houses  were  plun- 
tered  of  goods  and  over  a  thousand  dollars 
ti  money  taken,  also  some  watches  and  val- 
lable  jewelry.  The  Indians  watched  from 
he  hills  until  the  men  had  nearly  all  gone 
rom  the  valley  to  the  mountains  after  tim- 
ier,  when  they  rushed  down  upon  the  help- 
ess  women  and  murdered  them  in  the  most 
irutal  and  fiendish  manner  possible.  They 
lso  killed  and  wounded  several  cattle  from 
mre  cussedness. 

On  June  28th  the  Arapahoes  surrounded 
id    Yount's    house    at    the    mouth    of    Little' 


Popoagie  canyon  in  the  night.  They  kept 
him  in  by  shooting  at  him,  broke  open  his 
stable  and  took  a  fine  span  of  horses,  which 
they  for  some  unaccountable  reason,  killed 
some  miles   from  there  on   Twin   Creek. 

On  the  29th  day  they  attacked  Joe  Faris 
and  Sam  Rhon  while  they  were  working  on 
the  road  in  Red  Canyon,  but  the  Indians 
found  their  match,  for  the  boys  not  only 
stood  them  off  and  saved  their  horses,  but 
wounded  and  probably  killed  one  of  the  In- 
dians. One  day  Ed  Young  and  John  R. 
Smith  ran  on  to  one  of  these  Indians  at  the 
head  of  Red  Canyon,  ran  him  down  into  the 
Canyon  where  Tom  Anton  was  camped.  The 
Indian  broke  for  Tom's  horse  but  Tom  saw 
him  coming  and  shooting  commenced.  The 
Indian  was  armed  with  a  Henry  rifle  and 
shot  close  and  fast,  but  Tom  downed  him 
and  he  was  afterward  boiled  up  by  Hospital 
Steward  Dodge  of  Fort  Stambaugh  in  order 
to  secure  his  skeleton. 

On  the  4th  day  of  July,  1874,  Captain  Bates 
with  Company  B,  2nd  Cavalry,  and  Lieu- 
tenant Young  with  eighty  Shoshones 
(scouts),  attacked  the  Arapahoes  about  four 
or  five  hundred  strong  on  the  head  of  North 
Wood  River,  killed  forty  or  fifty  and  routed 
and  drove  the  rest  off,  losing  Corporal  Walk- 
er and  one  private  killed.  Lieutenant  Young 
lost  three  scouts,  killed,  and  several  wounded 
and   himself   wounded. 

In  the  winter  of  1876,  five  men  from  Lan- 
der were  hunting  and  trapping  down  Big 
Wind  River  and  were  all  killed.  Their  bod- 
ies were  found  the  following  spring.  Two  of 
them,  Thomas  Cook  and  Spencer,  were  killed 
near  the  mouth  of  Bridger  Creek  and  their 
camp  plundered.  James  Lisight,  B.  C.  An- 
derson and  one  Davis  werx  killed  on  what 
is  now  called  Lisight  Creek  about  two  miles 
from  Bridger  Creek  and  one  of  its  tributaries. 
Their  camp  was  also  robbed  of  everything 
the  Indians  wanted. 

In  the  spring  of  1877  a  party  of  miners 
from  Fort  McKinney  was  attacked  on  the 
Dry  Fork  of  Bad  Water  and  two  of  their 
number  killed,  names  not  known.  Barney 
Hill,  of  the  party,  was  shot  through  five 
times  and  left  for  dead,  but  came  to  and 
by  crawling  most  of  the  way,  reached  Sweet- 
water River  where  he  was  found  several 
days  later  by  prospectors  and  was  brought 
to  J.  M.  Bied's  place  on  Willow  Creek  and 
from  there  taken  to  the  Post  hospital  where 
he  fully  recovered.  He  afterward  committed 
suicide  in   Montana. 

In  April,  1877,  thirteen  Arapahoes  stole 
thirteen  head  of  horses  and  mules  from  Lan- 
der, and  were  followed  by  nine  men  seventy 
miles  to  Muskrat,  where  they  were  overtaken 
and  a  sharp  fight  ensued,  in  which  John  Mc- 
Cullom  and  Pap  Conant  were  wounded  and 
several  horses  killed.  It  was  thought  two 
or  three  Indians  were  killed  or  several 
wounded.  At  one  time  the  whites  got  pos- 
session of  all  the  horses,  but  during  the 
fight,  the  Indians  re-took  them  and  then 
hard  pressed  the  whites  half  way  back  to 
Lander. 

In  the  summer  of  1882  some  Northern  In- 
dians robbed  the  camp  of  A.  S.  Bruce,  also 
the  camp  of  Andy  Larson  on  Beaver.     They 


were  followed  by  Bruce  and  others  and  over- 
taken on  Big  Popoagie  below  Lander.  A 
sharp  engagement  followed  in  which  two  In- 
dians were  fatally  wounded.  This  same  party 
of  Indians  came  upon  a  Mexican  by  the 
name  of  Artecinario  and  a  white  man  by 
the  name  of  Lew  Blanchard  on  the  Big 
Horn  River,  and  then  killed  them  both.  This 
was  the  last  killing  known  of  in  this  county, 
but  many  more  than  those  enumerated  ,have 
lost  their  lives  at  the  hands  of  the  hostile 
Indians,  as  frequently  remains  are  found  of 
some  hopeless  miner,  prospector,  hunter  or 
emigrant  that  no  one  knows  anything  about. 

Several  persons  have  been  frozen  to  death 
and  many  crippled  for  life.  Three  soldiers 
stationed  at  Stambaugh  were  at  different 
times  lost  in  the  storms  and  frozen  to  death. 
In  1880,  a  soldier  from  Fort  Washakie  was 
lost  on  Twin  Creek  Hill  and  frozen  to  death. 
In  1870,  S.  C.  Nickerson  and  Charley  Stade 
were  lost  in  a  storm  at  the  head  of  Red 
Canyon.  Stade  gave  out  and  would  go  no 
further  and  was  found  the  next  day  with 
his  feet  frozen  solid  to  the  ankles,  from  the 
effects  of  which  he  died.  Nickerson  made 
his  way  in  the  night  near  to  Miners  Delight 
and  made  his  whereabouts  known  by  con- 
tinued firing  to  his  gun,  which  was  heard 
by  his  brother  and  others,  who  went  to  his 
rescue  and  found  him  exhausted  in  a  blinding 
storm. 

On  January  31,  1883,  Maggie  Sherlock, 
daughter  of  Mrs.  James  Smith  of  South 
Pass,  was  passenger  on  the  coach  enroute  to 
Green  River.  When  near  Dry  Sandy  Sta- 
tion, the  driver,  George  Ryder,  lost  his  way 
and  they  were  found  two  days  afterward  so 
badly  frozen  that  they  both  died  from  the 
effects  after  many  days  suffering. 

During  the  same  storm,  another  driver, 
James  Scott,  and  a  passenger,  N.  V.  Clark, 
residing  on  Willow  Creek,  were  overtaken 
by  the  storm.  Their  team  gave  out  and 
both  froze  to  death.  Clark  wandered  off 
from  the  road  and  was  not  found  until  a 
week  afterwards,  when  his  body  was  taken 
to  his  family.  W.  J.  Stuart,  Superintendent 
of  the  stage  line,  was  lost  with  these  last 
parties.  He  wandered  for  two  days  and  was 
accidentally  found,  blind  and  nearly  dead. 
He  recovered  however,  but  was  terribly  muti- 
lated, losing  a  part  of  both  feet,  all  of  his 
fingers,  his  nose  and  ears.  In  the  same  storm, 
Al  Daugherty  lost  his  way  near  Big  Sandy 
Station  and  was  found  next  day,  nearly  dead. 
He  recovered  but  was  terribly  crippled,  los- 
ing one  leg  below  the  knee,  a  part  of  the 
other  foot  and  all  of  his  fingers. 

The  first  permanent  settlers  were  William 
Evans,  James  Rodgers,  Tilford  Kutch,  U.  P. 
Davidson,  Steve  Geni  in  1868  on  Little  Wind 
River  in  what  is  now  the  Shoshone  reserva- 
tion. In  the  same  year,  Birch,  Austin  Likely, 
Saylor  and  Shafer  settled  in  the  valley  of 
Big  Popoagie.  In  1869,  John  R.  Murphy, 
and  J.  G.  Faris  settled  in  the  valley  of  Big 
Popoagie.  In  1869,  John  R.  Murphy,  and 
J.  G.  Faris  settled  on  Little  Popoagie  and  in 
the  same  year  W.  A.  Barrett  and  William 
Tweed  settled  in  Red  Canyon.  These  men 
held  their  ground  against  frequent  invasions 
of    hostile    Indians,    having    many    conflicts 


with  them  and  many  narrow  escapes  and 
were  frequently  robbed  of  their  stock,  andi 
for  years  could  scarcely  subsist,  but  most 
of  them  held  on  to  their  locations  and  remain 
there  today. 

I  Gold  was  known  to  exist  in  the  Sweetwa- 
ter County  many  years  prior  to  the  stampede 
in  1867.  Emigrants  to  California  had  found 
gold  on  Strawberry  and  on  the  Sweetwater. 
Soldiers  had  found  and  mined  gold  to  a  lim- 
ited extent  at  different  places.  The  Indians 
had  found  both  gold  and  gold  bearing  quartz 
and  brought  it  from  the  Sweetwater  country 
to  Fort  Bridger  and  other  settlements  west, 
until  this  country  was  looked  upon  as  a  good 
field  for  explorers.  In  1867  Louis  Robinson 
brought  the  first  sufficient  amount  of  gold 
into  Fort  Bridger  to  induce  a  stampede  and 
eight  men  went  into  the  mines^_j  Henry  Re- 
dell,  Harry  Hubbell,  Frank  Marshall,  Josh 
Terry  and  brother,  one  Davis  and  two  others 
first  discovered  the  famous  "Clarissa  Mine" 
and  the  Clarissa  Gulch,  where  South  Pass 
was  afterward  built,  these  and  other  parties 
being  driven  away  by  Indians.  Willow  Creek, 
Big  and  Little  Hermit  for  Placer!  In  At- 
lantic, The  Carriboo,  Young  America,  Soule 
and  Perkins,  Mary  Ellen,  Jim  Dyer  and  oth- 
er valuable  lodes  were  found  and  worked. 
Rock  Creek,  Little  Beaver,  Atlantic  Gulch 
and  Smith's  Gulch  and  many  other  placers 
were  worked  with  success  and  rich  results. 
In  Miners  Delight,  the  famous  Miners  De- 
light Lode  was  discovered  by  Holbrook, 
McGovern,  Pugh,  Manson,  Eads,  Livingston, 
Major  Gallagher,  Dick  Rice  and  George 
Owens.  The  same  party  also  discovered  and 
located  Spring  Gulch,  in  which  the  town  of; 
Miners  Delight  was  built.  This  gulch  and 
mine  proved  very  rich  and  is  still  being 
worked.  There  was  also  discovered  in  this 
vicinity  the  Bennett,  Peabody,  Barthlow  and 
San  Juan  lodes,  and  in  placer  the  Meadow 
Gulch,  Yankee  Gulch,  Poor  Man's  Gulch, 
Horace  Gulch,  Irish  Gulch,  Stambaugh 
Gulch,  Promise  Gulch  and  Placereta  Gulch, 
all  of  which  were  mined  out  and  yielded  rich 
returns.  The  Strawberry  Creek,  Diggings, 
two  miles  south  of  Miners  Delight,  were  as 
mysterious  as  they  were  rich.  All  of  the, 
gulches  and  sags  and  some  of  the  flats  at  or] 
near  the  head  of  Strawberry  Creek,  were  rich 
in  placer  gold  but  no  quartz  could  ever  be 
found,  and  as  it  was  not  a  washed  country, 
no  drift,  glacial,  river  or  ocean  deposits  butj 
primitive  formation  showed  plainly  every- 
where.  It  was  and  still  is  a  mystery,  where] 
the  gold  came  from.  Many  thousand  dollars 
worth  was  taken  out  mostly  by  the  Rocker,, 
or  Tom  process  or  by  hauling  the  dirt  toil 
water,  as  the  water  was  very  scarce  there! 
and  in  many  places  there  was  none  at  all. 

At  Lewiston  a  rich  placer  and  lode  were 
discovered  in  June,  1880,  the  placer  by  Henry 
Lovewell  and  James  Harding  and  the  bullionj' 
lode  by  the  Nickerson  Brothers.  The  mineSI 
in  this  county  are  all  gold,  free  milling! 
quartz,  and  the  placers;  pure  washed  gold* 
of  a  coarse  nature  and  easily  saved.  The 
placers  have  been  nearly  exhausted  where 
worked  on  a  small  scale  by  the  ordinary 
cheap  process  of  sluicing,  toming  or  rockin, 
but  rich  results  will  yet  be  realized  by  the 


more    improved    appliances    working   by   hy- 
draulic process. 

The  richest  quartz  mines  have  been  work- 
ed to  water  level  and  to  where  the  surface 
disturbances  made  the  labor  and  expense 
greater.  Work  has  been  suspended,  capital 
only  being  needed  to  prove  them  lasting  and 
productive  of  rich  returns  when  developed 
to  a  sufficient  extent  to  properly  test  them. 
This  will  be  done  in  time  and  the  Sweet- 
water mines  will  take  rank  among  the  best 
on  the  continent.  The  great  drawback  to 
the  development  of  these  mines  was  first,  the 
many  years  conflict  with  the  Indians,  when 
the  miner  had  to  work  with  his  gun  in  his 
hand  or  by  his  side  all  the  time,  not  knowing 
[what  moment  he  would  have  use  for  it  and 
need  it  badly.  Again  many  unprincipled  men 
deceived  parties  and  men  of  means  all  over 
the  United  States  by  the  salting  dodge,  in 
placing  gold  or  rich  quartz  in  worthless  lodes 
with  which  the  county  abounds  and  then  tak- 
ng  the  unsuspecting  victim  to  the  prospect, 
selling  it  to  him  and  then  skipping  out.  Such 
in  act  is  a  crime  under  our  law,  punishable 
)y  a  severe  penalty.  This  was  done  so  suc- 
:essfully  and  so  repeatedly,  that  parties  all 
over  the  United  States  were  bilked  and  left 
n^-jdisgust,  spreading  the  report  that  the 
Sweetwater  mines  were  the  biggest  frauds 
n  the  world,  so  that  it  is  next  to  impossible 
:o  induce  capital  to  come  into  these  mines 
and  develop  them,  notwithstanding  the  fact 
:hat  in  a  few  years  they  have  yielded  not 
ess  than  three  millions  in  gold.  There  have 
been  many  mills  built  at  these  mines,  some 
of  which  are  running,  some  idle,  while  others 
pave  been  moved  away  to  other  mining  re- 
gions. 

There  was  built  in  South  Pass  in  1869  the 
[irst  quartz  mill,  a  five  stamp  water  power, 
oy  Tosier,  Eddy  and  Roberts; 

In  1869  a  ten  stamp  steam  mill  by  Jim 
Mills  and   Louie   Engle; 

In    1869   a   ten   stamp   steam   mill   on    Big 
Hermit  by   Hall,   Sneath,   Schaun   &   Co.; 
I    In  1869  a  ten  stamp  steam  mill  on  Little 
Hermit  by  Kidder  and  Mason; 

In    1871    a    ten    stamp    steam   mill   on    Big 
Hermit  by  E.  Amoretti; 
•  In  1871   a  ten  stamp  steam  mill  on  Little 
Hermit  by  J.  D.  Farmer. 

There  was  first  a  ten  stamp  steam  mill  at 
\tlantic  City  built  by  Dr.  James  Irwin  in 
.869  and  in  1869  a  ten  stamp  steam  mill 
yas  built  just  above  Atlnatic  City  by  Tom 
Collins.  In  1869  a  thirty  stamp  steam  mill 
vas  built  on  the  Mammoth  Lode  near  At- 
antic  by  Colonel  Elliott.  This  was  built 
ki  a  salted  lode.  In  1869  a  twenty  stamp 
nill  was  built  in  Atlantic  Gulch  by  the  Lake 
Brothers.  In  1869  a  ten  stamp  water  mill 
vas  built  on  Rock  Creek  by  Mr.  Rice.  In 
870  a  ten  stamp  steam  mill  was  built  just 
idow  Atlantic  City  on  Rock  Creek  by 
/Vheeler  &  Hull.  In  1875  a  ten  stamp  steam 
nill  was  built  on  Rock  Creek  above  Atlantic 
>y  Poire  &  Furgerson.  At  Miners  Delight 
n  1870,  the  Miners  Delight  ten  stamp  steam 
nill  was  built  by  Holbrook,  Walsh,  McGov- 
rn  and  Pugh.  In  1873  the  Hartley  mill,  a 
en  stamp  steam  mill,  was  built  in  Miners 
Delight  by   Fontain,   Hartley  and   Robinson. 


In    1881    a   ten   stamp   steam   mill   was  built 
in  Lewiston  by  Martin  Lewis. 

Life  sketch  of  the  first  to  introduce  any 
considerable  number  of  cattle  for  grazing, 
when  where,  with  results: 

William  Boyd  brought  in  the  first  stock 
of  cattle  in  1869,  ranged  them  on  the  head- 
waters of  the  Poposias.  In  1874  Robert  Hall, 
J.  K.  Moore,  Jules  Lamoureux,  Scoffey 
Brothers  &  Cuney,  W.  P.  Noble,  James  Kinn 
and  others  ranged  cattle  on  the  Poposia, 
Beaver  and  Wind  River  valleys  successfully 
and  with  great  profit.  At  this  time,  1885, 
among  the  largest  stock  cattle  owners  are 
the  Wyoming  Land  &  Cattle  Company,  Cap- 
tain R.  A.  Torry,  Qlto  Franc.  Carter  Cattle 
Company,  R.  H.  Hall,  E.  Amoretti,  John 
Lee,  John  Luman,  Richard  Ashworth,  Count 
De  Dore,  S.  A.  Wilson,  E.  P.  Livingston, 
George  W.  Baxter,  Henry  Belknap,  Dickin- 
son &  McDonald,  Signor  &  Brown,  John 
Werlen,  C.  W.  Crowley,  Big  Horn  Cattle 
Company,  D.  J.  Jones,  Rothwell  &  Sliney, 
Joseph  Cornett,  Mrs.  A.  O'Neil,  Jevon  Pick- 
les. 

William  Tweed,  an  Englishman,  was  the 
first  to  introduce  sheep  raising.  He  settled 
in  Red  Canyon  in  1870,  brought  two  hundred 
sheep  as  an  experiment,  which  proved  suc- 
cessful. Having  no  disease,  being  of  hardy 
breed,  they  withstood  the  winter  well,  but 
required  close  herding  and  night  corralling 
near  the  house  to  prevent  their  destruction 
by  wild  animals,  such  as  wolves,  bears,  moun- 
tain lions,  lynx  and  wild  cats,  with  which 
the  country  was  over  run  and  which  killed 
many  of  his  sheep  in  spite  of  his  utmost 
precaution. 

It  being  demonstrated  that  sheep  would 
thrive  and  do  well  here  if  the  prevailing  dis- 
ease, the  scab,  was  kept  in  check,  and  the 
wild  animals  killed  off,  many  others  engaged 
in  the  business  and  are  still  so  engaged, 
among  whom  are  Bruce  J.  McTurk  &  Poire, 
James  Irwin,  Hornicker  &  Movers,  Noble 
&  DeWolf,  William  O'Brien,  J.  E.  Morrison, 
J.  B.  Okie,  Woodruff  Brothers,  Amoretti  & 
Bragg,  Logan  &  Huff,  J.  La  Hoar,  Hood  & 
Ralston,  A.  H.  Bright,  Kime  &  Miller,  Henry 
Sherman  and  others.  Sheep  raising  has  gen- 
erally proved  a  success,  the  severe  winters 
being  the  greatest  drawback.  The  disease, 
scab,  can  be  kept  down.  In  consequence  of 
a  liberal  bounty  being  paid  by  the  territory, 
the  wild  animals  that  destroy  sheep  are  fast 
disappearing,  and  sheep-husbandry  in  the 
future  will  be  one  of  the  leading  industries 
of  Fremont  County,  the  bounty  on  wolves 
being  $1.50,  lynx  and  wild  cats,  25  cents, 
hawks  25  cents,  bears  $5.00,  and  mountain 
lions  $5.00. 

The  first  to  engage  in  the  business  of  horse 
raising  for  the  market  were  Orson  Grimmett 
and  L.  P.  Vidal,  who  in  1876  introduced 
horse  raising  and  have  continued  in  the  busi- 
ness ever  since  with  success  and  profit.  They 
were  followed  by  John  Gillis  and  A.  P.  Bat- 
trum  who  brought  in  horses  for  breeding 
purposes  in  1867,  and  the  latter  is  still  en- 
gaged in  the  business,  successfully.  They 
were  followed  by  John  Gillis  and  A.  P.  Bat- 
trum  first,  then  by  Andy  Chapman,  J.  W. 
Chapman,  Count  Du  Dore,  Hanks  Brothers, 


J.  C.  Johnson,  A.  McKenzie,  John  B.  Gleaver, 
A.  B.  Wilson,  Harry  Brownson  and  many 
others  with  marked  success,  as  horses  with- 
stand the  cold  better  than  any  other  kind  of 
stock.  There  are  in  the  southern  part  of 
this  country  large  numbers  of  wild  beasts 
(horses),  those  that  have  escaped  from  their 
owners  or  escaped  their  range,  generally 
banding  together  in  small  bands,  herded  by 
some  young  stallion  that  has  beaten  off  all 
rivals  after  terrible  battles,  in  which  the  van- 
quished generally  loses  his  life.  Here  they 
flourish,  grow  fat  and  rapidly  increase.  Oc- 
casionally some  of  these  bands  are  captured 
by  relays  of  pursuers  or  by  tolling  them  into 
inclosures  with  tame  horses. 

The  first  attempt  to  cultivate  the  soil  in 
this  county  was  successfully  made  by  W.  A. 
Barrett  on  Barrett's  Creek,  a  tributary  of 
Red  Canyon,  in  1869,  where  for  a  number 
of  years  he  sold  to  the  mining  towns  nearly 
all  kinds  of  vegetables  at  a  high  price.  Oth- 
ers followed  in  the  business,  among  whom 
were  J.  G.  Farris,  Ed.  Young,  Louie  Miller 
and  Andy  Larson.  From  these  small  begin- 
nings in  vegetable  productions,  larger  tracts 
were  cultivated  with  an  increasing  acreage 
each  year.  The  fertile  valleys  of  Big  and 
Little  Popoagie  are  largely  under  cultivation. 
Twin  Creek,  Beaver  and  Sweetwater  are  cul- 
tivated to  a  considerable  extent  with  good 
results  and  profit.  Also  the  valley  of  Little 
Wind  River  on  the  Shoshone  reservation  is 
successfully  cultivated  by  the  early  settlers, 
who  are  permitted  to  remain  there  by  reason 
of  their  location  prior  to  making  the  reser- 
vation. Nearly  all  kinds  of  vegetables  and 
cereals  mature  in  these  valleys  except  corn, 
the  hardier  and  earliest  kinds  alone  ripening. 
Sufficient  of  these  productions  are  raised  here 
for  home  consumption,  including  the  supply- 
ing of  the  military  at  Ft.  Washakie  and  em- 
ployees and  force  at  the  military  agency.  Ex- 
port we  cannot,  for  want  of  facilities.  Hay 
for  home  consumption,  for  the  military 
agency,  can  be  had  at  from  seven  to  ten 
dollars  per  ton,  oats  at  two  to  two  and  a  half 
cents  per  pound. 

The  grazing  industry  has  been  uniformly 
successful.  The  first  herds  were  kept  near 
the  foot  hills  of  .the  Wind  River  range  but 
as  that  portion  became  settled  up,  the  herds 
as  they  increased  were  ranged  lower  down 
on  the  Beaver,  the  lower  Sweetwater,  then 
over  the  Owl  Creek  range  on  to  the  Owl 
Creek,  upper  Wind  River,  Greybull,  Stinking 
Water,  No  Wood  and  Big  Horn  Rivers. 
Sheep  and  horses,  being  closer  herded,  take 
the  place  of  the  receding  herds  of  cattle,  and 
now  are  found  mostly  near  the  Wind  River 
mountains,  wintering  on  Twin  Creek,  Beaver, 
Bad  Water,  Sweetwater  and  Wind  River. 

Agriculture  is  yet  in  its  infancy  in  this 
county.  The  production  only  being  what  is 
needed  for  home  consumption  and  while 
there  could  be  vast  amounts  of  grain  and 
vegetables  produced,  there  being  no  adequate 
means  of  transportation,  a  surplus  is  not  pro- 
duced. The  lands  are  very  productive,  yield- 
ing as  high  as bushels  per  acre  of  oats 

and -per    acre    of   potatoes    and   other 

things   in   proportion   except   corn,   which   as 
yet  has   not  proved   successful.     There  is   as 


yet  no  extensive  ditching  done,  each  farmer! 
having  an  independent  ditch  for  his  own  use, 
but  occasionally  several  combine  and  take: 
out  enough  water  for  their  use,  collectively. 
The  water  is  plentifully  supplied  from  the 
numerous  mountain  streams. 

The  first  saw  mill  was  built  on  Mitt  Creek 
near  South  Pass  in  1868,  by  Charles  Decker.j 
Another  was  built  on  Slate  Creek  near  At- 
lantic in  1869,  by  Major  Anthony,  another 
near  South  Pass  in  1869  by  Janson  Sherman, 
another  near  the  Jiead  of  Rock  Creek  in  1869 
by  William  M.  Hinman.  From  these  mills 
most  of  the  lumber  was  obtained  in  the; 
year  1868,  with  which  in  the  years  following 
the  towns  of  South  Pass,  Atlantic,  Miners 
Delight  and  Fort  Stambaugh  were  built,  and 
from  which  the  lumber  was  obtained  with 
which  the  mining  was  carried  on  in  the  pros- 
perous mining  days.  In  1885  Emil  Granier 
built  a  saw  mill  at  the  head  of  Rock  Creek 
with  which  to  cut  the  large  amount  of  lum- 
ber necessary  to  construct  the  many  flumes 
on  his  mining  ditch  and  for  other  purposes 
connected  with  his  mining  and  building.  On 
Twin  Creek  and  its  tributaries  William 
Tweed  has  now  and  has  had  for  many  years 
a  portable  saw  mill,  from  which  the  lumber 
supply  for  fencing,  building  and  mining  is 
had.  In  1876  Samuel  Fairfield  built  a  saw 
mill  on  Big  Popoagie  and  in  1880  A.  T. 
Wilson  built  a  saw  mill  on  North  Fork  and 
moved  and  rebuilt  same  on  Big  Popoagie  in 
1883;  and  in  1883  Perry  Townsend  built  a 
saw  mill  on  Big  Popoagie  and  from  these 
mills  the  lumber  supply  for  Lander,  North 
Fork,  the  Agenc}^  and  Fort  Washakie  was 
mostly  obtained.  And  they,  at  the  time, 
1885,  contnue  to  produce  the  needed  supply. 

The  first  and  only  flouring  mill  built  in 
this  county  was  built  in  1880  by  A.  T.  Wilson 
on  North  Fork,  where  it  is  now  in  operation. 
This  is  run  by  water  power  from  the  North 
Fork  River. 

The  first  bank  in  what  is  now  Fremont 
County  was  opened  in  South  Pass  in  1869 
by  Illif  &  Company  and  was  managed  by 
Judge  Amos  Steck.  This  was  a  private  in- 
stitution and  did  business  mostly  in  the  pur- 
chase of  gold  dust  and  the  shipment  of  same 
for  mining  parties.  In  1875,  E.  Amoretti, 
Son  &  Company  built  and  opened  a  bank  in 
Lander,  which  is  now  in  a  prosperous  and 
flourishing  condition,  doing  a  general  bank- 
ing business  with  E.  Amoretti,  Sr.,  President, 
and  Samuel  C.  Parks,  Jr.,  Cashier.  In  South 
Pass  in  the  years  1868  to  1870,  William  Er- 
vin,  N.  Baldwin,  A.  Houghton,  J.  D.  Farmer, 
E.  Amoretti,  Lightburn  Brothers,  Gilder- 
sieve  Brothers  and  many  others  engaged  in 
mercantile  business  with  varying  success.  At 
this  time,  James  Smith  alone  keeps  a  general 
supply  store  there.  In  the  early  years  ai 
Atlantic  City,  Leighton  Brothers,  Hoffman 
&  Company,  Cash  Melin,  Jules  Lamoureaux. 
E.  Amoretti  and  others  engaged  in  mercan- 
tile pursuits,  and  later  Louis  Poire,  and  ai 
this  time  Robert  McAuley  alone  keeps  a 
general  store  in  Atlantic  City.  At  Miners 
Delight,  John  Curry,  George  McKay,  John 
Dillabough,  John  Yancy  and  the  Miners  De- 
light Mining  Company  did  trading,  and  now 
the  old  stand-by,  James  Kime,  alone  supplies 


the  wants  of  all  in  a  general  store.  At  Ron- 
gis,  Signor  Brothers,  and  now  E.  A.  Signor 
keeps  general  supply  store.  At  Lander  the 
first  store  was  opened  by  Henry  Molson  in 
1874,  followed  by  Dickinson  &  Kime  in  1875, 
followed  later  by  N.  Baldwin,  E.  Amoretti, 
James  I.  Patten,  J.  K.  Moore,  L.  Poire, 
•Noble  Lane;  all  except  the  first  two  still 
peing  in  the  business  and  doing  well.  Mr. 
Patten  also  keeps  a  drug  store,  Mrs.  C.  K. 
Kiriland  a  millinery  store  and  Chalmers  & 
[Burnett  have  a  harness  store  and  supply  raw 
'or   manufactured   materials. 

In  early  days,  Major  N.  Baldwin  kept  a 
trading  post  at  Double  Log  Cabins  on  the 
Popoagie,  then  on  Baldwin  Creek,  later  in 
1872  and  1874  was  post  trader  at  Fort  Stam- 
baugh.  At  Fort  Washakie,  J.  K.  Moore  is 
and  has  been  for  ten  years,  post  trader  and 
Indian  trader  with  good  success.  At  the 
Shoshone  Agency,  Noble  &  Land  have  a 
store  and  are  Indian  traders.  At  North  Fork, 
Ben  Sheldon  and  J.  K.  Moore  kept  stores  for 
several  years,  but  the  business  not  proving 
lucrative,  they  gave  up  the  store  at  that 
place.  At  Meeteetse,  A.  B.  Wilson  has  a 
country  store,  and  at  Corbett,  Arland  &  Cor- 
bett  keep  a  small  store. 

J£he     first     road     traveled     to    any    extent 
throtfgh  this  County  was  the  Overland  Cali- 
fornia   Emigrant    Road,    up    the    Sweetwater 
hrough   the    South    Pass   at    Pacific    Springs 
nd  so  on  across  the  Sandies  and  Green  River 
nd  into  Salt  Lake.     This  was  first  traveled 
y    traders    of   the    American    Fur    Company 
under  John  B.   Provo  of  St.   Louis.     In   1847 
the  Great  Mormon  Hegira  traveled  this  route 
to  their   Salt   Lake  Mecca   with   their  wheel- 
barrows, hand  carts  and  nondescript  vehicles, 
ed    by    Brigham    Young.      In    1859    General 
[Lander    made    survey    and    laid    out    a    road 
through   this   county    from   Burnt    Ranch   on 
weetwater   to  the   upper   crossing  of   Green 
iver,  thence  to  Oregon  via  Bear  Lake,  Utah, 
taking   with    him    a    train    of    emigrants    and 
making  a  good  road. 

The  road  from  South  Pass  to  Lander,  Fort 
Washakie  and  Meeteetse  was  a  natural  In- 
dian and  game  trail,  traveled  by  the  first 
prospectors  and  settlers,  afterward  improved 
by  the  settlers  and  later  by  the  county.  The 
same  is  true  of  all  the  other  roads  in  the 
ounty;  mostly  natural  roads  and  very  good 
for  a  mountainous  country.  No  bridges  of 
mportance  have  yet  been  constructed  in  the 
:ounty.  What  few  there  are  have  been  built 
ay  private  enterprise  or  at  the  expense  of  the 
;ounty. 

In  the  early  days  of  what  is  now  Fremont 
County,  many  engaged  in  the  freighting 
business.  W.  P.  Noble  was  extensively  en- 
aged  in  the  freighting  business  to  Fort 
Btambaugh  and  the  mines,  in  which  business 
le  formed  the  nucleus  of  a  fortune,  which 
was  afterward  made  in  stock  raising  in  the 
Popoagie  and  Beaver  Valleys.  Many  others 
ngaged  in  hauling  freight  from  Bryan,  Green 
River,  Point  of  Rocks  and  Rawlins  on  the 
Union  Pacific  Railroad  to  the  mining  towns 
n  this  county  and  to  Ft.  Stambaugh  and 
Washakie  and  the  Shoshone  Agency.  Among 
he  earlier  ones  were  Chrisman  Brothers, 
Tom  McGuire,  T.  Brown,  N.   H.   Scott,  Dan 


McDonald,  M.  Kellshire,  John  Arnold,  Harry 
Burke,  Sam  Fairfield  and  many  others.  Some 
of  the  above  are  still  engaged  in  the  busi- 
ness, but  sharp  competition  and  the  low  rates 
paid  for  freight  from  the  railroad  now  makes 
the  business  a  precarious  one  and  scarcely 
paying  expenses.  The  earlier  freighters  made 
money,  receiving  from  three  to  five  cents  per 
pound,  while  now  only  one  and  one-fourth  to 
two  cents  is  paid  to  same  points. 

The  first  freighting  through  which  is  now 
Fremont  County,  was  as  early  as  1857.  Ma- 
jors and  Russell  freighted  on  the  Overland 
Emigrant  Road  from  the  Missouri  River 
west,  and  supplied  Johnson's  army  when 
marching  on  Utah.  One  train  in  charge  of 
one  Simpson,  was  attacked  and  burned  up 
by  the  Mormons  at  what  is  now  called  Simp- 
son's Hollow,  near  Big  Sandy. 

The  first  ctage  line  was  on  the  old  Cali- 
fornia Overland  Road  from  St.  Joseph,  Mis- 
souri, to  Salt  Lake,  Utah,  run  by  McGraw 
who  carried  a  monthly  mail.  The  outfit  con- 
sisted of  a  coach  and  baggage  wagon.  This 
was  prior  to  1855.  In  1856,  the  Mormons 
ran  a  weekly  stage  and  mail  from  Atchison 
to  Salt  Lake.  In  1857,  Jones  Brothers  ran 
a  stage  line  from  Leavenworth  to  Bridger. 
In  1860,  Ben  Hockerty  ran  a  weekly  stage 
and  mail  from  Leavenworth  to  Bridger.  In 
1861,  the  King  of  Stagers,  Benjamin  Holli- 
day,  put  on  the  Overland  daily  stage,  carry- 
ing mail  and  express  from  Atchison  to  San 
Francisco.  Also  in  1860-61  Holliday  ran  the 
famous  Overland  Daily  Pony  Express  from 
Atchison  to  San  Francisco.  In  1862  Holli- 
day was  compelled  to  move  his  line  further 
south  on  to  the  Bitter  Creek  route  to  secure 
greater  safety  from  the  northern  hostile  In- 
dians, Sioux,  Arapahoes  and  Cheyennes,  who 
attacked  his  stations  and  stages,  killed  many 
of  his  drivers  and  employees,  stole  hundreds 
of  thousands  of  dollars,  and  made  it  next  to 
impossible  to  carry  on  the  business  on  this 
route.  The  building  of  the  Union  Pacific 
Railroad  took  the  freight,  express  and  mail 
across  the  continent  and  destroyed  the  busi- 
ness of  the  overland  trade. 

When  the  mining  excitement  broke  out  in 
the  Sweetwater  country,  Alex  Benham  put 
on  a  daily  stage,  mail  and  express  line  from 
Bryan  to  South  Pass  in  1869.  In  1870  he 
put  a  line  on  the  Point  of  Rocks  route, 
from  Point  of  Rocks  to  South  Pass.  William 
Larimer  also  put  on  a  daily  line  of  stages 
from  Point  of  Rocks  to  South  Pass  for  one 
season,  when  that  route  was  abandoned.  Ben- 
ham  continued  the  Bryan  route  until  succeed- 
ed by  C.  C.  Huntley  &  Company  in  1871, 
who  in  1872  changed  the  route  from  Bryan 
to  Green  River  and  extended  the  line  from 
Green  River  to  Lander.  In  1880,  J.  L.  Slav- 
ens  put  on  a  tri-weekly  stage,  mail  and  ex- 
press line  from  Rawlins  to  Ft.  Washakie, 
and  soon  afterward  contracted  to  extend  the 
mail  to  Meeteetse.  This  extension  from 
Washakie  to  Meeteetse  was  sub-contracted 
by  Short,  McCoy  and  Cress  who  ran  a  tri- 
weekly buck-board  carrying  mail,  passengers 
and  express. 

Fremont  County  was  created  by  an  act  ap- 
proved March  5th,  of  the  Legislative  session 
of   1884,  bounded   and   described   as   follows: 


10 


That  all  the  portion  of  the  present  county  of 
Sweetwater,  territory  of  Wyoming,  bounded 
and  described  as  follows,  shall  be  created  a 
county  to  be  known  by  the  name  of  Fremont 
with  county  seat  at  Lander.  Commencing 
at  the  north-west  corner  of  Sweetwater  coun- 
ty running  thence  south  on  the  western  boun- 
dary line  of  said  county,  the  boundary  line 
between  townships  26  and  27  north,  thence 
east  on  said  township  line  to  a  point  107 
degrees  and  30  minutes  west  from  Green- 
wich, being  the  western  boundary  of  Carbon 
County.  Thence  north  along  said  line  of 
107  degrees  and  30  minutes  of  longitude  to 
its  intersection  with  the  line  of  43  degrees 
and  30  minutes  of  north  latitude,  being  the 
southern  boundary  of  Johnson  County. 
Thence  west  along  said  line  of  43  degrees 
and  30  minutes  north  latitude  to  the  Big 
Horn  river;  thence  down  the  Big  Horn  River 
to  the  25th  parallel  of  north  latitude  to  the 
place  of  beginning.  Being  the  largest  coun- 
ty in  the  territory,  having  about  twelve  and 
a  half  million  square  acres  and  is  about  one 
hundred  and  ninety  miles  long  by  one  hun- 
dred twenty-five  wide,  in  the  centre  of  which 
is  situated  the  Shoshone  Indian  reservation, 
covering  the  fertile  valleys  of  Wind  River 
and  its  tributaries,  which  is  the  garden  spot 
of  Wyoming.  This  reservation  has  an  area 
of  1,520,000  acres. 

H.  S.  Nickerson,  H.  E.  Blinn  and  B.  F. 
Lowe  were  appointed  by  Governor  Hale  on 
the  27th  day  of  March,  1884,  as  Commission- 
ers to  organize  this  county  as  provided  by 
the  act  of  creating  the  county.  The  Com- 
missioners met  in  Lander  on  the  28th  day  of 
March  and  organized  by  electing  H.  G.  Nick- 
erson Chairman  and  appointing  J.  I.  Patten 
Clerk  of  the  Board.  The  Commissioners  is- 
sued a  proclamation  for  a  special  election  to 
be  held  on  the  22nd  day  of  April,  1884,  and 
established  voting  precincts,  at  which  elec- 
tion B.  F.  Lowe  was  elected  Sheriff,  H.  G. 
Nickerson  Probate  Judge,  James  A.  McAvoy 
County  Clerk,  H.  G.  Nickerson  County 
Treasurer,  A.  H.  Briht  County  Attorney, 
H.  E.  Blinn  Chairman,  P.  H.  Hall  and  A.  J. 
McDonald  County  Commissioners,  James  I. 
Patten  Superintendent  of  Schools,  Samuel 
Iiams  Coroner,  Charles  N.  Syp  Surveyor, 
J.  W.  O'Neal  Assessor. 

These,  the  first  officers  elected  at  the  spe- 
cial election,  met  at  Lander,  the  County  seat, 
on  the  6th  day  of  May  and  qualified  when 
the  county  was  declared  fully  organized. 

Total  assessed  value  of  property  for  the 
year  1884  was  $1,689,957  with  a  tax  levy  of 
16  mills  on  the  dollar,  amounting  to  $28,- 
142.02  total  tax,  of  which  $1,255.10  was  for 
territorial  tax,  $769.75  stock  indemnity,  $3,- 
344.48  common  schools;  the  balance  was 
general  county  funds.  There  was  also  col- 
lected this  year,  $1,112.00  poll  tax,  which 
was  applied  to  the  general  school  fund. 

At  the  first  general  election  held  November 
4,  1884,  J.  J.  Watkins  was  elected  Sheriff, 
H.  G.  Nickerson  Probate  Judge  and  County 
Treasurer,  J.  A.  McAvoy  County  Clerk,  R. 
H.  Hall  (Chairman),  H.  E.  Blinn  and  A.  J. 
McDonald,  County  Commissioners,  A.  H. 
Bright  County  Attorney,  J.  W.  O'Neal  As- 
sessor,  Airs.   T.    F.    Cadwell,   County    Super- 


intendent of  Schools,  Samuel  Iiames  Cor- 
oner, F.  S.  Wood  Surveyor,  James  Kime 
Representative  Territorial  Legislature,  L.  P. 
Vidal,  appointed  by  the  Sheriff,  Deputy  Sher- 
iff at  Lander,  and  J.  H.  Irey,  Deputy  Sheriff 
at  Meeteetse. 

At  the  special  election,  April  22,  1884,  there 
was  482  votes  cast;  at  regular  election  No- 
vember 4,  1884,  there  were  716  votes  cast. 
Total  population  in  1885  was  about  1,200; 
total  assessed  valuation  $1,983,038.  The  tax 
toll  of  the  year  1885  shows  as  follows:  Total 
levy  fifteen  mills  on  the  dollar  on  stock,  and 
fourteen  and  a  half  on  all  other  property; 
total  tax  levied  for  1885  was  $31,080.38,  to 
which  will  make  the  common  school  fund 
not  far  from  $5,000.  The  Territory  tax  $1,4 
979.26  and  stock  indemnity  $899.53. 

The  warrants  of  this  county  have  always 
been  worth  their  face  and  have  even  sold 
for  a  premium  of  10  cents  when  distressed 
for  taxes  and  sold  to  the  highest  bidder.  In 
the  year  1884  there  was  collected  by  the 
treasurer,  over  two  hundred  dollars  more 
than  the  entire  tax  roll  of  that  year  called 
for,  the  tax  being  collected  so  close  that  the 
penalties  and  interest  on  the  delinquents 
made  this  excess.  This  result,  probably  no 
other  county  in  the  territory  can  show,  and 
it  is  very  gratifying  to  this,  the  youngest 
county   created  in  the  territory. 

When  Wyoming  was  yet  a  part  of  Dakota 
territory,  Sweetwater  County  (out  of  which 
Fremont  County  was  created)  was  Carter 
County. 

The  act  creating  Fremont  County  pro- 
vides for  special  terms  of  court  in  the  coun- 
ty, which  is  included  in  the  3rd  Judicial  Dis- 
trict when  the  county  commissioners  shall 
deem  it  necessary  and  shall  notify  the  judge 
of  the  district  to  hold  a  term  of  court  in  the 
county  at  such  time  as  he  can  and  not  con- 
flict with  his  stated  terms  in  other  counties 
in  his  district. 

The  first  term  of  court  was  held  at  Lander 
on  the  8th  day  of  June,  1884,  Judge  Samuel 
C.  Parks  presiding.  The  county  was  repre- 
sented by  Prosecuting  Attorney  A.  H. 
Bright.  There  was  present.  District  Clerk 
Jesse  Knight,  also  Deputy  District  Clerk  E. 
F.  Cheney.  There  being  but  little  business 
for  the  court,  and  none  of  importance,  the 
term  lasted  but  ten  days.  There  was  also 
present  J.  I.  Atkins,  Sheriff,  and  L.  P.  Vidal, 
Deputy   Sheriff. 

South  Pass  City,  exclusively  a  mining 
town,  was  the  first  town  in  the  county.  It 
was  the  county  seat  of  Sweetwater  county 
from  1869  to  1874.  When  the  county  seat 
was  moved  to  Green  River.  In  1867,  gold 
having  been  discovered  in  what  was  known 
as  the  Sweetwater  mines,  a  rush  was  made 
for  South  Pass  where  a  rich  mine  (the  Clar- 
issa) was  discovered  which  fed  a  rich  placer, 
the  Clarissa  Gulch.  The  hostile  Indians 
drove  the  first  prospectors  out,  who  returned 
in  a  month  with  reinforcements  and  made 
permanent  camp  and  settlement.  In  early 
spring  of  1868,  the  news  of  wonderfuly  rich 
finds  of  gold  being  circulated,  a  rush  was 
made  from  all  quarters  for  the  new  Eldorado 
and  some  5,000  persons  came  into  the  mines. 
South     Pass    rapidly    grew    to    prominence. 


If— 

jMain  Street  was  built  up  on  each  side  for 
halt  a  mile,  stores,  hotels,  saloons  and  other 
pusiness  houses  were  built  and  flourished 
or  some  years.  The  name,  South  Pass  City, 
was  given  the  place  in  consequence  of  its 
f>eing  near  the  great  South  Pass  of  the 
£ocky    Mountains,    through    which    the    old 

alifornia  emigrant  road  passes  at  Pacific 
Springs,  known  to  all  the  Overland  travelers 
o  California  and  Oregon  as  being  on  the 
Divide  of  the  Rocky  Mountains.  South  Pass 
pad  a  flourishing  district  school  and  has  con- 
inued  to  have  up  to  the  present  time.  It 
lad  no  established  church  society,  but  fre- 
quently had  services  held  by  itinerant  preach- 
:rs  of  various  denominations.  The  population 
vas  variously  estimated  from  1,200  to  2,000 
n  1868-69,  since  which  the  number  has  de- 
ceased to  less  than  50  persons  at  the  present 
ime.  The  first  sheriff  was  John  R.  Murphy, 
low  living  in  Lander  at  an  advanced  age. 
3e  was  appointed  by  the  authorities  of  Da- 
:ota  Territory.  Officers  appointed  by  Gov- 
rnor  Campbell  upon  the  organization  of 
Sweetwater  County  were  John  Body,  Sheriff, 
ohn  Anthony,  John  Swingle  and  Nathaniel 
Daniels,  County  Commissioners,  H.  G.  Nick- 
rson,  Superintendent  of  Schools,  H.  B.  Hub- 
>ell4  Coroner,  C.  L.  Lightburn,  Assessor. 
ohn^McGlinchey  was  next  sheriff  followed 
>y  P.  A.  McPhee.  James  A.  Brennen  was 
text  Probate  Judge,  Tim  McCarthy,  County 

lerk,  A.  Mcintosh  next.  J.  W.  Kingman 
vas  first  Judge  of  District  Court,  followed  by 
AT.  T.  Jones  and  H.  M.  Carey.  But  few  of 
he  early  settlers  of  South  Pass  remain, 
imong  them  being  J.  H.  Johnson,  James 
Smith,  John  Bilcox,  Jason  Sherman,  L.  B. 
(Tripp  and  Antone  Stubs. 

The  first  Justice  in  South  Pass  was  James 
W.  Stillman  followed  by  Mrs.  Esther  Morris, 
kdio  was  appointed  by  Governor  Campbell 
md  who  was  the  first  and  only  woman  Jus- 
ice  of  Peace  in  the  United  States.  She  was 
[ucceeded  by  C.  C.  Fox,  and  the  present  Jus- 
ice  is  S.  B.  O'Meara. 

Owing  to  the  depreciation  in  value  of  the 
nining  property  and  interest,  all  business 
an  down  and  was  suspended,  but  South  Pass 
Ell  yet  be  prosperous  in  mining.  "The  South 
?ass  News,"  a  five  column  paper,  was  started 
(i  1869,  edited  by  C.  J.  Cole,  Captain  N.  L. 
Turner   and   E.   A.   Slack   successively. 

Atlantic  City,  four  miles  east  of  South 
pass,  sprang  into  xistence  in  1868,  during  the 
nining  excitement,  and  during  the  height  of 
p   prosperity,    its    population   was   variously 

stimated  from  1,500  to  2,000.  Among  the 
jirst  settlers  was  John  Anthony,  Pease  & 
Taylor,    Foster    Brothers,   Jules    Lamoureux, 

rank  E.  Caffey,  Dr.  James  Irwin,  Ed  Lawn, 

ouis  Poire.  Among  other  early  settlers  still 
emaining   in    Atlantic,    is    Robert    McAuley, 

d  Lawn,  John  Huff,  Frank  Lenna,  Charles 
[Washington,  H.  B.  Macomber,  William  Gra- 
|rix,  R.   Ricketts. 

Atlantic,  like  South  Pass,  never  had  any 
;>rganized  church  society,  but  had  frequent 
ervices  by  local  or  itinerant  preachers.  It 
las  always  maintained  a  district  school  and 
vhile  its  population  is  now  less  than  one 
jiundred,  yet  it  keeps  up  its  school. 


11 


Its  first  Justice  of  the  Peace  was  Dr. 
James  Irwin,  appointed  by  Governor  Camp- 
bell in  1869,  followed  by  Ed  Lawn,  Charles 
Washington  and  Robert  McAuley,  present 
Justice.  The  first  and  present  Notary  Pub- 
lic is  J.  S.  Frankeburger. 

Atlantic  City,  like  South  Pass,  sprang  up 
during  the  mining  excitement,  and  then  all 
business  followed  the  depression  in  mining 
until  the  lowest  ebb  was  reached,  but  at  this 
time  permanent  improvements  and  develop- 
ments are  being  made,  which  will  place  At- 
lantic in  a  prominent  place  in  the  mining 
world.  Emil  Granier  has  just  completed  a 
ditch  here  some  15  miles  long  with  15  or  20 
substantial  flumes  at  a  cost  of  about  $100,000, 
with  which  to  work  the  placers  here  and  vi- 
cinity, and  will  commence  work  in  the  spring 
when   rich   returns   are   confidently   expected. 

Miners  Delight,  four  miles  east  of  Atlantic, 
grew  suddenly  into  prominence  as  did  South 
Pass  and  Atlantic  during  the  mining  excite- 
ment of  1868,  and  is  a  mining  town  named 
after  the  famous  "Miners  Delight  Lode," 
here  situated.  Among  the  first  settlers  were 
Jonathan  Pugh,  Jack  Holbrook,  Major  Gal- 
lagher, H.  G.  Nickerson,  George  McKay, 
James  Kime,  and  it  had  in  1869,  a  population 
upwards  of  1,0000,  but  is  now  reduced  to  less 
than  50.  Among  the  old  timers  remaining 
are  James  Kime,  George  McKay,  Jonathan 
Pugh,  B.  C.  Sexton.  Miners  Delight  had  no 
church  society  but  had  district  school  for 
many  years  but  has  none  now. 

The  first  Justice  of  the  Peace  was  Frank 
McGovern,  followed  by  John  Curry,  H.  G. 
Nickerson  and  George  McKay. 

Miners  Delight,  like  South  Pass  and  At- 
lantic will  yet  take  its  place  in  the  front  rank 
of  mining  towns  in  the  West. 

Red  Canyon,  a  mile  from  Miners  Delight, 
was  first  settled  by  William  Tweed  and  W. 
A.  Barrett  in  1870,  who  settled  on  Barrett 
Creek,  a  tributary,  followed  by  Joseph  Wag- 
ner and  John  Norton,  all  of  whom  engaged 
and  are  still  engaged  in  farming  and  stock 
raising  with  good  success. 

In  1869  Little  Popoagie  was  first  settled 
by  J.  R.  Murphy  and  J.  G.  Faris,  the  former 
locating  on  what  is  known  as  Eagle  ranch. 
They  both  had  several  encounters  with  the 
Indians  and  many  narrow  escapes.  Later 
settlers  followed,  among  whom  were  Ed 
Young,  Frank  Casto,  William  Juftile,  John 
Werlen,  Mrs.  Clark,  William  Trosper  and 
A.  P.  Battrum.  They  engaged  in  farming 
and  stock  raising  with  good  success.  Here 
a  district  school  is  taught. 

Willow  Creek  was  settled  in  May,  1873, 
by  James  A.  McAvoy,  John  M.  Ried  and 
Joseph  Himmelsbach.  The  last  two  are  still 
engaged  in  farming  and  cattle  raising  with 
good  success. 

Lyons,  or  lower  Little  Popoagie,  was  set- 
tled in  1880  by  Robert  Hall,  John  Gillis,  M. 
Gregg,  Roberts  and  others,  all  of  whom  are 
engaged  in  agriculture  and  stock  raising  with 
good  results.  There  is  a  flourishing  district 
school  in   Lyons'  district. 

Sweetwater  was  first  settled  in  1874  by 
Signor  Brothers  at  what  is  now  Rongis, 
named  by  reversing  the  name  of  Signor. 
Herman    Bohack   and   Henry   Bruning   were 


12 


the  first  to  settle  at  St.  Marys,  on  Sweet- 
water, in  1878,  but  abandoned  their  location 
three  years  later.  Now  the  river  is  located 
from  St.  Marys  down  through  the  county. 
Among  the  locators  are  John  Arbold,  Signor 
and  Brown,  Westfall,  Falher  &  Sons,  C.  H. 
Bush,  and  Ed  Bennett.  The  last  two  are  at 
Sweetwater  bridge  on  the  stage  road  from 
Lander  to  Rawlins.  Further  down  are  D. 
N.  Carrington,  Clay  &  Forrest,  August  Lan- 
acken,  James  Via  and  others,  all  successfully 
engaged    in    stock    raising,    principally. 

Wind  River  valley,  now  Fort  Washakie 
and  the  Shoshone  Agency,  was  first  located 
in  1868  by  Tilford  Kutch,  U.  P.  Davidson, 
Jack  Parker,  William  Evans,  H.  G.  and  S. 
C.  Nickerson,  Henry  and  William  Lusk,  Wil- 
liam Rogers  and  many  others.  Rogers,  Evans, 
William  Jones,  Charles  Yarnell,  Steve  Geni 
and  Charles  Oldham  still  remain,  although 
the  lands  are  declared  set  apart  for  a  reser- 
vation for  the  Shoshone  Indians  and  such 
other  friendly  tribes  as  they  may  tolerate  or 
admit  among  them.  The  lands  of  this  reser- 
vation are  the  best  in  the  territory,  the  soil 
and  climate  the  finest. 

North  Fork,  four  miles  from  Lander,  was 
first  located  by  C.  B.  Harrison,  E.  P.  Cot- 
trell,  Ed  Atlon,  Henry  Mealman,  P.  P.  Dick- 
enson. In  1874  quite  a  village  sprang  up 
here  on  the  line  of  the  reservation.  Here  a 
district  school  is  taught.  The  principal  in- 
dustry is  farming.  E.  P.  Cottrell  was  first 
Justice  of  the  Peace,  succeeded  by  H.  H. 
Hale,  the  present  Justice.  The  population  of 
North  Fork  precinct  is  about  75. 

Meeteetse,  situated  in  the  northern  part  of 
the  county,  is  a  stock  raising  community. 
The  village  consists  of  one  store,  post  office 
and  saloon.  It  has  a  school  of  twenty  schol- 
ars, a  population  of  some  75  persons,  en- 
gaged in  stock  raising  with  the  best  of  sue 
cess.  The  town  was  started  in  1879.  The 
first  settlers  were  Otto  France,  Judge  Carteri 
Cattle  Company,  followed  by  Captain  Henry 
Belknap,  Dickerson  &  McDonald,  A.  B. 
Wilson  and  others.  The  first  and  present 
Justice  is  Otto  France.  The  first  and  pres 
ent   Notary   Public  is   E.  T.   David. 

Embar  on  Owl  Creek,  named  from  the 
Captain  Torry  band,  is  a  village  of  some  50 
inhabitants,  settled  by  Smith  and  Baradee, 
George  M.  Sliney,  J.  D.  McCullouch,  Cap- 
tain A.  R.  Torry,  Price  Brothers  and  others 
in  1880.  Stock  raising  is  the  principal  pur- 
suit which  like  other  portions  of  the  county 
is  successfully  followed.  The  first  and  pres- 
ent Justice  of  the  Peace  is  George  M.  Sliney. 

Lander,  the  county  seat  of  Fremont  Coun- 
ty, was  first  settled  by  Messrs.  Austin,  Burch, 
Likely,  Saylor  and  Shafer  in  1869.  Shafer 
died  on  his  ranch  in  1870  and  the  others  have 
since  left  the  territory.  Many  other  settlers 
soon  after  made  permanent  locations,  among 
whom  were  Mrs.  Richardson  and  Mrs.  Hall, 
both  being  killed  by  Indians  soon  after. 
Frank  Ecoffey,  J.  J.  Frey,  Hornicker  Broth- 
ers, Peter  Anderson,  John  McCullom,  James 
Forrest,  Henry  Lovewell,  John  Pelon,  Ed 
St.  John  and  many  others  made  permanent 
settlement  and  engaged,  and  most  of  them 
are  still  engaged,  in  farming  and  stock  rais- 
ing. 


Lander  is  situated  on  the  Big  Popoagie 
and  diverging  streams,  three  streams  run- 
ning through  the  town.  The  town  was  called 
Push  Root  by  the  first  settlers,  but  finally 
named  in  honor  of  the  soldier  and  explorer, 
General  Lander,  who  built  the  road  through 
this  county  from  Burnt  ranch  on  Sweetwater 
to  the  upper  crossing  of  Green  River  and  so 
on  to  Bear   Lake  in  Utah. 

The  first  Justice  of  the  Peace  was  T.  W. 
Luim,  succeeded  by  J.  I.  Patten,  George 
Stringfield,  W.  A.  Frederick,  W.  F.  Chalmers 
and  Dr.  James  Irwin,  the  present  Justice. 
The  first  Notary  Public  was  George  T. 
Stringfield,  succeeded  by  J.  I.  Patten,  the 
present  Notary.  Peter  Anderson,  John  Grant, 
W.  H.  Jackson,  Peter  Peratto  and  C.  C. 
Crowley  were  constables  successively.  The 
vote  November  4,  1884,  was  290;  population 
about  400;  total  valuation  in  the  district  was 
in  1885,  $108,341,  on  which  a  special  tax  of 
$3,000  was  raised,  with  $1,000  appropriated 
from  the  teacher's  fund,  a  substantial  stone 
school  house  was  built.  There  is  now  en- 
rolled in  the  district  100  scholars.  A  flour- 
ishing school  has  been  taught  in  Lander  since 
1875. 

By  the  energy  and  perseverance  of  Father 
Moriarity,  a  substantial  Catholic  church  was 
built  of  stone  in  1881  and  a  society  organ- 
ized. In  1885  a  substantial  wood  building 
was  built  by  the  Methodist  and  Episcopal 
societies,  presided  over  by  Reverend  C.  C. 
Zebold  (Methodist),  Reverend  Roberts  and 
Coolidge  (Episcopal),  the  latter  a  young 
Arapahoe  Indian  educated  in  the  east  after 
his  father  and  other  Indians  were  killed  at 
Lander  in  the  raid  by  the  whites  on  the 
Arapahoes  in  1870. 

'  The  first  newspaper,  the  "Wind  River 
Mountaineer,"  was  started  January  1,  1883, 
by  I.  C.  Wynn,  Editor  and  Proprietor.  It 
was  enlarged  July  2,  1883,  to  a  six  column 
paper  and  sold  to  a  stock  company  and  it  is' 
still  edited  by  Wynn,  to  be  enlarged  to  a 
seven  column  weekly,  in  July,  1886,  all  print- 
ed in  Lander. 

Since  the  division  of  this  county  from 
Sweetwater  and  making  the  county  seat  at 
Lander,  business  of  all  kinds  has  rapidly 
sprung  up,  proved  successful  and  increasing. 

There  was  organized  in  1873,  a  militia  com- 
pany, armed  by  the  territory,  W.  F.  O'Neil 
Captain  and  called  the  "Push  Root  Rangers." 
Their  numbers  gradually  grew  less,  until  they 
finally  disbanded. 

Stinking  Water,  a  stream  in  the  northern 
part    of    the    county,    takes    its    name    from 
strong  mineral  springs  that  come  out  in  thev 
river   and   on   its   banks  just   below   the   can- 
yon   where   the   stream   cuts   through    Cedar 
Mountains.     This  place  was  formerly  called 
Colter's   Hell.     The  fumes  from  the   springs 
are   so   strong  as  to   overcome   persons   who' 
inhale  them.     In   1883,  a  man  went  to  bathe  ' 
there  and  was  found  dead,  having  been  over-'., 
powered   by   the   fumes.      The   strong   fumes 
can  be  smelled  for  miles  away  and  the  water 
in  the  river  tastes  of  it  for  miles  below  the*1 
springs,  while  above,  it  is  pure  and  sweet,    j 

Fort  Brown,  named  after  Captain  Brown, 
who  was  killed  in  the  Phil  Kearney  massacre 
in   1866,  was  established  where   Lander  now 


13 


stands  in  1869  by  General  Brisbin,  U.  S.  A. 
This  post  was  moved  on  to  the  Shoshone 
reservation  on  Little  Wind  River  in  1873  and 
named  Fort  Washakie  after  Chief  Washakie 
of  the  Shoshone  Indians,  and  is  garrisoned 
by  one,  two  or  three  companies. 

In  the  summer  of  1870  Fort  Stambaugh 
was  established  by  Major  David  Gordon  of 
the  2nd  Cavalry  and  named  after  his  Lieu- 
tenant, who  was  killed  on  the  10th  day  of 
May  in  an  engagement  with  Indians  on  Stam- 
baugh Creek,  tributary  of  Twin  Creek.  This 
post  was  situated  between  Atlantic  and  Min- 
srs  Delight,  midway,  and  was  abandoned  in 
the  fall  of  1877. 


SCENIC   CONDITIONS   IN   FREMONT 
COUNTY,  WYOMING 

By  E.  H.  FOURT 

'Ye  Rockies  hail!  majestic  mounts! 

Of  future   bliss  the   favored   shrine! 
For  you  God's  Heart  of  gifts  Divine 

Opens  this  day  its  precious  founts." 

, — Diary  of  Father  DeSmet. 

The  Wind  River  range  of  the  Rocky  Moun- 
:ains  presents  a  scene  so  vast,  so  varied,  so 
-ugged,  so  inspiring  and  unusual  that  the 
noM"  experienced  travelers  and  explorers  ex- 
:laim  "How  Wonderful!"  and  are  unable  to 
Snd  words  to  express  a  comparison  with  the 
Dther  ranges  of  mountains  in  the  world. 
Viewed  from  a  distance  they  invite;  from 
:heir  summits,  the  distant  ranges  of  moun- 
:ains  aided  by  the  clear  atmosphere  and  their 
iltitude,  afford  the  widest  range  of  clear 
vision  in  the  world. 

It  was  this  view  that  made  Captain  Bonne- 
ville exclaim,  when  he  had  climbed  Chau- 
/enet,  "It  is  the  most  beautiful  spot  in  the 
world!" 

Chauvenet  is  a  spur  extending  several  miles 
lorth  and  east  of  the  main  range.  To  the 
lorth  Captain  Bonneville  was  looking  over 
:he  tops  of  the  Owl  Creek  Range  and  follow- 
ng  the  courses  of  the  Big  Horn  and  Clark's 
Fork  Rivers  to  their  junction  with  the  Yel- 
owstone  in  southern  Montana,  nearly  two 
lundred  miles  away,  Prior  Gap,  Clouds  Peake 
ind  all  of  the  tributaries  of  the  Big  Horn 
system  stand  out  in  bold  relief.  The  south- 
erly extensions  of  the  Black  Hills  are  seen 
is  they  approach  Laramie  Peak  and  extend- 
ng  on  to  Sherman  Hill,  the  highest  point 
m  the  Union  Pacific  Railroad,  then  Elk 
Mountain  and  the  ranges  of  the  Medicine 
Bow  Forest  reserve  in  southern  Wyoming 
ind  northern  Colorado  appear,  many  of  these 
joints  being  fully  two  hundred  miles  away 
ind  comprising  the  drainage  area  of  the 
Morth  Platte  and  Sweetwater  Rivers.  "Split 
Rock"  is  in  full  view  and  marks  the  course 
if  the  Old  Oregon  Trail  from  Independence 
Rock  past  Green  and  Crooks  Mountains  as 
t  passes  up  the  Sweetwater  Valley  to  the 
Did  South  Pass,  while  between  Mount  Nys- 
:rum,  Wind  River  and  Temple  Peakes  he 
:aught  a  glimpse  of  the  Ogden  Gateway  and 
he  ranges  surrounding  Great  Salt  Lake. 

Washington  Irving  says  "Captain  Bonne- 
ville had  the  soul  to  appreciate  the  scene," 
le  made  full  notes  and  Avrote  graphically  but 


he  realized  the  inadequacy  of  words  to  por- 
tray the  profound  impression  made  upon  his 
mind  and  turned  over  his  notes  to  Washing- 
ton Irving.  Great  Litterateur  that  he  was, 
and  while  he  immortalized  Captain  Bonne- 
ville, he  made  but  slight  changes  from  the  en- 
tries made  by  Bonneville  in  his  diary.  Bon- 
neville became  so  absorbed  in  his  work  he 
"was  absent  without  leave"  for  three  years 
and  was  dropped  from  the  rolls,  but  he  had 
taken  observations,  made  maps  and  had  writ- 
ten such  a  report,  that  when  he  submitted 
them  to  President  Jackson  with  an  explana- 
tion he  was  restored  to  his  command  and 
promoted. 

,  The  work  of  Captain  Bonneville  and  the 
expedition  of  Lewis  and  Clark,  under  the 
guidance  of  Sackajawea,  enabled  the  United 
States  to  claim  Washington,  Oregon  and 
parts  of  Idaho  and  Montana  by  "Right  of 
Discovery"  and  the  claim  was  made  to  stick, 
after  serious  discussions  with   Great   Britain. 

Colonel  John  C.  Fremont  was  then  sent 
out  with  a  larger  command  well  equipped 
with  the  best  scientific  instruments  of  the 
time  he  went  through  South  Pass,  selected 
what  he  thought  was  the  highest  peak  in  the 
range  as  he  passed  up  Green  River,  climbed 
it  and  gave  it  his  name,  his  description  of  the 
climb,  the  efforts  made  and  the  wonderful 
view  from  the  summit,  ranks  with  that  of 
Bonneville  and  they  are  not  excelled  by  any- 
thing of  the  kind  written  in  the  English  lan- 
guage. 

Bierstadt,  the  great  American  painter,  read 
these  reports  was  inspired  and  sitting  under 
Wind  River  Peak  he  painted  the  greatest 
mountain  landscape  in  the  world,  "The  Rocky 
Mountains,"  which  hangs  in  the  Metropoli- 
tan Art  Museum  in  New  York  and  has  been 
spoken  of  by  the  best  critics  as  "The  best 
thing  in  lights  and  shadows  in  the  museum" 
and  is  a  faithful  portrayal  of  the  mountain 
range  from  Wind  River  Peak  to  Chauvenet. 
Artists  have  crossed  the  ocean  to  study  this 
wonderful  work. 

The  things  we  have  been  describing  have 
become  classics,  have  been  known  for  nearly 
a  century  and  still  they  are  comparatively 
unknown  to  our  American  people,  because, 
until  recently  transportation  has  been  lack- 
ing. The  best  view  of  this  range  which  is 
obtainable  from  any  point  which  can  be 
reached  by  automobile  is  seen  from  the  top 
of  Beaver  Hill  on  the  Rocky  Mountain  High- 
way. 

Where  the  road  crosses  the  Sweetwater 
Divide  at  an  altitude  of  about  seven  thou- 
sand feet,  beginning  at  an  easterly  point  the 
main  features  within  our  observation  are,  to 
the  southeast,  Ferris  Crook  and  Green 
Mountains  are  in  full  view,  the  Sweetwater 
River  coming  through  South  Pass,  Atlantic 
Peak  and  Mt.  Nystrom  on  either  side  of  the 
headwaters  of  the  Big  Popo-Agie.  The  next 
is  Mt.  Arter,  which  rises  only  a  little  above 
timber  line  and  is  immediately  back  of  Lan- 
der. From  the  top  of  this  peak,  which  is 
easily  reached,  one  may  get  a  full  view  of  the 
scene  incorporated  in  Bierstadt's  painting, 
this  peak  obstructs  the  view  of  Wind  River 
Peak.    Mt.  Hooker  is  near.     It  is  well  named, 


14 


sloping  from  the  southwest  it  looks  as  if  it 
were  actually  hollowed  out  on  the  northeast- 
erly side;  and  just  to  the  east  is  Chauvenet, 
the  peak  which  Captain  Bonneville  climbed. 
In  the  distance,  and  a  little  to  the  right,  may 
be  seen  the  group  of  peaks  which  surround 
the  glaciers. 

Crow  Heart  Butte  is  seen  down  in  the 
middle  of  the  Wind  River  Valley,  then  across 
the  basin  of  the  Wind  River  one  gets  a 
glimpse  of  the  Absarakees  and  the  intersec- 
tion is  marked  by  Washakee  Needle,  a  very 
prominent  land  mark. 

Following  along  the  Owl  Creek  Range  are 
several  points  known  as  Embar,  Sheep  Creek 
and  Mexican  Passes.  Then  the  Big  Wind 
River  Canyon,  Bird's  Eye  and  Sioux  Passes, 
which  is  a  little  half  round  gap  at  the  east- 
erly end  of  the  Owl  Creeks. 

The  next  best  view  of  this  range  obtain- 
able from  a  highway,  is  just  above  Shoshoni 
where  the  Grand  Highway  leaves  the  Yellow- 
stone, the  first  going  on  to  Lander,  and  the 
latter  diverging  to  Wind  River  Canyon. 
Again  enumerating  the  points  easily  distin- 
guishable, they  are,  Atlantic  Peak,  Mt.  Arter, 
Wind  River  Peak,  often  called  Surveyors 
"V."  This  "V"  is  really  canyon  between 
Wind  River  and  Temple  Peaks,  then  Chau- 
venet, Little  Wind  River  Canyon  and  Hooli- 
gan, then  the  great  bald  mountain  extending 
to  Bull  Lake  Canyon. 

The  group  of  snow  caps  to  the  right  in- 
clude Fordyce  Peaks,  Mt.  Kirkland,  Chim- 
ney Mountain  and  Gannet  Peaks.  The  high- 
est snow  cap  is  on  the  top  of  Gannet  Peak 
and  two  well  marked  ice  fields,  the  one  to  the 
left  and  the  one  to  the  right  of  Gannet  are 
live  glaciers,  and  immediately  back  of  these 
peaks  is  the  Fourt  Glacier.  To  the  right  of 
Gannet  are  Mt.  Harding,  Mt.  Wilson,  Downs 
Mountain  and  an  unnamed  point  which  is 
easily  accessible  and  from  which  one  may  see 
five  thousand  feet  of  the  tops  of  the  Grand 
Tetons,  and  to  the  east  a  distinct  view  of 
Laramie  Peak,  which  is  two  hundred  thirty 
miles  away. 

To  the  right  the  pinnacles,  including  Rams- 
horn,  are  seen  and  between  these  points  the 
Wind  River  extends  to  Two  Gwo  Tee  Pass. 
Again  turning  to  the  right  are  seen  Castle 
Rocks,  Washakie  Needle,  the  Passes  in  the 
Owl  Creek  Range,  Wind  River  Canyon  and 
Bird's  Eye  Passes. 

Gannet  Peak  has  an  altitude  of  13,785  feet. 
The  view  from  the  top  of  the  glacial  area  and 
Gannet  Peak  is  simply  sublime.  To  the 
west  one  sees  the  whole  Teton  Range,  "The 
Grand  First  View"  of  the  most  celebrated 
mountain  scene  on  the  American  continent. 
From  this  point  one  can  realize  the  truth 
of  all  of  the  graphic  descriptions  written 
about  the  Tetons.  One  obtains  at  a  glance, 
all  of  the  interesting  features  of  the  southerly 
end  of  Yellowstone  National  Park.  The 
Teton  and  Wind  River  ranges  are  the  most 
sharply  broken  and  present  the  most  rugged 
view  of  any  mountains  in  the  world,  they 
are  of  gray  granite,  which  has  come  up 
through  red  granites  and  phorphy,  and  it 
breaks  more  sharply  than  any  of  the  older 
rocks. 


In  Two  Gwo  Tee  Pass  we  see  Lava  Moun- 
tain, reddish  in  its  appearance  and  which 
marks  a  distinct  change  in  the  geological  for- 
mations, and  now  turning  to  the  right,  the 
geological  measures  lie  horizontally  and  this 
horizantal  striation  is  distinctly  marked  in 
the  pinnacles  to  the  west  of  Two  Gwo  Tee 
Pass  and  surrounding  Brook's  Lake,  where 
they  rise  to  an  altitude  of  about  2,000  feet 
above  the  surface  of  the  lake.  This  view  pre- 
sents a  wearing  away  of  the  rocks  not  un- 
like the  Grand  Canyon  of  the  Colorado. 

All  of  the  scenes  we  have  described  in  the 
foregoing  are  seen  to  about  the  point  where 
the  Union  Pacific  Railroad  crosses  the  Lara- 
mie Plains. 

There  is  a  wonderful  view  of  the  water 
shed  comprising  the  sources  of  the  Columbia 
as  they  converge  into  the  Snake  River  and 
flow  to  Puget  Sound.  Fremont's  Peak  pre- 
sents, from  this  point,  all  of  the  graphic  de- 
scription written  by  its  name  sake,  and  is 
only  ten  or  twelve  miles  away  with  the  larg- 
est glacial  area  in  the  United  States  lying; 
between.  Dinwoody  Canyon  is  not  less  than 
4,000  feet  deep.  This  glacial  area  is  the 
source  of  supply  of  many  streams,  the  prin- 
cipal one  being  Dinwoody  and  Bull  Lake 
Creeks,  and  discharges  not  less  than  500,000 
acre  feet  of  water  annually,  and  the  drier  and 
hotter  the  season,  the  larger  the  flow.  The 
waters  leaving  the  terminal  moranes  of  the 
glaciers  are  filled  with  rock  flower,  so  that 
their  appearance  is  not  unlike  the  discharge 
from  the  battery  of  a  stamp  mill.  The  lakes 
below  afford  settling  basins  and  from  there 
the  waters  proceed  with  the  clear  bluish  tint 
that  we  observe  as  they  discharge  into  the 
Big  Wind  River.  This  point  marked  the  in- 
definite point  where  the  boundary  lines  on 
the  Great  Northwest,  Mexico  and  the  Loui- 
siana Purchase  converged,  but  was  never 
definitely  located.  Fremont  County  has  morei 
than  a  hundred  miles  of  well  marked  trails' 
and  many  more  of  branching  game  trails, 
through  the  mountains  and  evergreen,  for- 
ests primeval.  More  than  five  hundred  miles1 
of  bright  dashing  mountain  streams  andi 
scores  of  lakes,  stocked  with  fish  that  are 
easily  accessible  and  hundreds  of  cascades,; 
rapids  and  water  falls.  One  may  walk  ori 
ride  for  weeks  amid  these  scenes  and  it  only1 
creates  a  desire  to  travel  farther  and  seej 
more. 

The  botanist  follows  the  snow  line  andj 
fields  of  mountain  flowers  until  autumnj 
leaves  warns  him  to  turn  back. 

The  student  of  geology  begins  with  the| 
lowest  (altitudinally  the  highest)  formation' 
and  follows  the  fault  planes  and  geological* 
measures  back  to  those  surfaces  which  are 
familiar  to  all.  The  granits,  schists,  silurian! 
and  other  lines,  oil  sands,  phosphates,  redf 
beds  and  shales  are  all  exposed  and  may  be' 
measure  and  studied.  Intrusions  of  diorite 
and  quartz  veins  invite  the  mining  engineer'! 
at  the  same  time.  I 

The  largest  live  glaciers  in  the  United!) 
States  surround  Gannet,  Mount  Helen  andu 
Chimney  Mountain.  These  glaciers  araH 
among  the  snow  caps  which  are  seen  fromH 
points  near  Bonneville  and  Shoshoni,  on  thell 
Chicago,  Burlington  and  Quincy  and  Chicagcin 


15 


ind  Northwestern  Railroads.  They  are  the 
:arthest  to  the  right  as  you  look  toward  the 
nountains  and  the  highest  snow  cap  is  on 
:he  top  of  Gannet  peak,  Mount  Helen  may 
)e  seen  distinctly  looking  west  from  a  point 
lear  Arapahoe.  It  stands  out  like  the  top 
}f  a  chimney  with  a  notch  in  the  middle  of 
t  against  a  setting  sun  and  is  right  in  the 
niddle  of  the  glacial  area. 

There  is  a  wall  of  ice  five  hundred  feet 
n  height,  clear  and  streaked  with  blue  and 
jreen  metalic  tints.  A  large  block  of  granite 
perhaps  twenty  by  fifteen  feet  had  started 
;o  cross  the  biggest  glacier.  It  was  frozen 
n  and  when  we  saw  it,  was  balanced  upon 
in  ice  pedestal  about  three  feet  high  and 
vith  an  area  on  top  of  only  a  third  of  that 
)f  the  boulder.  The  water  was  running  in 
orrents.  Many  crevices  are  impassable  and 
hin  ice  at  many  places  might  precipitate  one 
nto  a  very  cold  bath. 

Going  up  the  easterly  side  of  Dry  Creek 
me  finds  timber  line  approaching  nearer  to 
he  glaciers  than  at  any  other  point.  One 
:an  ride  up  "Horse  Ridge"  between  Dinwid- 
Ue  and  Dry  Creeks,  to  a  point  about  two 
niles  from  the  top,  but  from  there  it  is  a 
lard  climb  to  the  top  of  Chimney  Mountain. 
?rom  there,  with  five  or  six  hundred  feet 
>L- tope  one  could  get  down  on  the  ice  at  the 
rery  apex  between  the  Dinwiddie  and  Bull 
^,ake  glaciers  and  a  camp  here  with  canned 
leat  to  cook  with,  would  enable  one  to  reach 
iny  of  the  peaks  which  pierce  the  ice  fields 
ind  I  think  nothing  more  daring  can  be 
ound  among  the  Alps. 


Cheyenne,  March  29th,  '68. 
Dear  Nephew: 

Your  letter  came  to  hand  today  and  in  re- 
»ly  would  say  I  was  very  happy  to  hear  from 
rou  and  to  know  that  you  and  the  ballenc  of 
ny  friends  are  all  well  and  doing  well.  You 
ay  it  has  been  a  long  time  since  you  seen 
ne  which  is  very  true  however  you  all  have 
ieen  remembered  by  me  with  affection  and 
:indness.  I  often  think  of  all  my  relatives 
tnd  wish  to  see  them  but  if  you  know  any- 
hing  of  my  character  you  know  that  my 
omposition  is  not  entirely  destitute  of  pride, 
rherefore  you  will  not  think  strange  that  I 
vould  prefer  being  away  from  all  friends 
intil  such  times  that  I  could  meet  them  on  an 
:quality.  And  thank  high  heaven  my  wild 
>ats  are  all  sowed  and  for  the  past  4  years 

have  been  reaping  the  harvest.  Last  year 
'  cleared  2000.00.it  has  always  been  my  in- 
ention  to  get  in  shape  to  follow  my  back 
rack  through  life  and  make  straight  all  the 
:rooked  steps  which  I  made  when  young. 
Vt  last  the  country  west  is  being  opened 
riore  and  more  every  day  which  makes  a  good 
>pening  for  business.  The  mining  prospects 
^re  as  good  at  Sweet  water  as  ever  they 
Vere  in  California,  there  is  no  doubt  as  to 
heir  richness  we  are  about  275  miles  from 
^weet  Water.  Many  ARE  already  starting 
j)Ut  it  is  to  soon  by  30  days.  You  Say  that 
nothers  health  is  good  nothing  could  do  me 
p  much  good  as  that  news  and  above  all 
hings  in  my  heart  would  like  to  see  her  not 
|hat  I  do  not  love  the  ballenc  of  my  friends 
mt   Mothers  first.     You  say   Sidney  is  fore- 


man of  a  shop  in  Geneva  I  wish  you  write 
and  let  me  know  if  he  has  no  farm  and  if  he 
is  poor  so  that  he  has  to  work  for  other 
people.  Also  tell  me  how  all  the  rest  of  the 
family  are  doing  and  how  they  are  getting 
along  tell  me  how  Mary  and  Edwin  are  get- 
ting along  as  we  know  where  Martin  Warner 
is  and  what  he  is  doing.  Tell  all  the  family 
to  write  to  me.  As  for  your  coming  out 
here  I  would  advise  you  if  you  are  doing 
well  to  stay  there  with  your  parents  and  you 
will  be  better  off  in  a  long  run  write  often 
and  long  and  tell  me  about  Erastus  Root  and 
all  the  old  neighbors  in  Mentor  Lake  County 
Ohio  but  for  how  long  cant  tell  I  presume 
the  country  and  my  old  friends  have  changed 
so  much  that  I  would  scarcely  realize  it.  It 
is  my  intention  now  if  I  can  fix  my  business 
in  shape  to  allow  me  to  come  home  next  fall 
and  spend  the  most  part  of  the  winter  and 
then  go  to  New  York  in  the  spring.  I  would 
like  very  much  to  see  Mother  and  the  bal- 
lenc of  our  family,  Aunt  Betsey  and  in  fact 
all  my  old  friends  and  will  if  I  live  till  I 
can  fix  my  business  so  it  will  not  suffer 
without  my  attention.  I  have  sold  100,000 
dollars  worth  goods  during  the  past  seven 
months  and  the  profits  were  very  good  if  I 
have  no  bad  luck  this  season  can  make  all 
the  money  I  will  ever  want  and  my  opinion 
is  that  luck  depends  on  management  and 
having  had  some  experience  think  I  will  make 
it  you  write  that  you  are  about  brother  Riley 
size  and  if  report  be  true  you  are  a  very  good 
looking  man  at  least  thought  so  by  the  girls. 
You  say  you  were  at  Aunt  Betsey's  I  wish 
I  could  have  been  there  with  you  and  will 
be  after  a  while.  I  wish  Aunt  Betsey  would 
write  to  me.  Delos  has  been  with  me  sev- 
eral times  this  winter  Delos  is  doing  very 
well.  And  a  very  good  boy  and  I  think  very 
much  of  him  he  is  very  much  like  Uncle 
Roswell  in  his  appearance.  You  ask  about 
this  country  I  will  tell  you  all  I  know  about 
it  and  I  have  been  here  about  11  years  and 
think  I  have  a  good  knowledge  Cheyenne  is 
situated  at  the  east  base  of  the  Black  Hills, 
107  miles  north  from  Denver  City  and  85 
miles  south  of  Fort  Laramie  and  40  miles 
east  from  Fort  Saunders  and  2^4  miles  from 
Fort  D.  A.  Russell  one  of  the  largest  forts 
in  the  west.  The  town  is  located  on  a  beau- 
tiful Prairie  and  no  timber  nearer  than  20 
miles.  It  is  517  miles  east  of  Salt  Lake 
everything  going  west  is  compelled  to  come 
through  this  place  there  has  been  a  world 
of  money  paid  out  in  this  country.  But  dont 
think  it  will  ever  be  a  good  farming  country 
but  the  best  in  the  world  for  stock  of  all 
kinds.  The  first  day  of  August  1867  I  com- 
menced building  the  first  house  in  Cheyenne 
City  which  now  contains  about  8000  peo- 
ple and  the  cars  of  yesterday  brought  518 
more  there  is  a  great  field  for  young  men 
who  will  work  and  then  you  can  tell  your 
father  and  mother  that  I  know  of  no  law 
that  can  hinder  them  from  writing  to  me. 
One  reason  for  not  writing  long  ere  this  was 
I  wanted  to  accomplish  a  certain  object  be- 
fore I  either  wrote  or  come  home  and  that 
object  is  nearly  accomplished  and  I  am  com- 
ing then,  Yours  as  ever, 

A.  C.  BECKWITH. 


16 


You  may  look  for  Delos  and  me  to  drop 
in  about  next  winter  if  I  can  get  him  to 
come  with  me  and  think  I  can. 

I  remain  your  Uncle  and  friend, 
A.  C.  BECKWITH. 


Cheyenne,  April  15th,  '68. 
Dear  Nephew: — 

Yours  of  April  6th  came  to  hand  to  day 
containing  a  Statement  which  I  wish  to  cor- 
rect you  say  I  wrote  I  was  worth  two  hun- 
dred thousand  dollars  which  I  think  if  you 
will  look  you  will  find  that  I  said  I  had  made 
twenty  thousand  last  year  I  am  not  aware 
of  saying  that  I  was  worth  anything  more 
than  that  you  must  remember  that  200,000 
is  a  very  large  pile  of  money.  I  have  not 
heard  from  Delos  since  my  last  letter  to  you 
but  presume  he  is  well  or  I  would  heard 
from  him.  Got  a  letter  from  Aunt  Betsey 
a  few  days  ago.  and  answered  it  immediately. 
You  ask  me  about  this  country  it  is  the 
worst  country  on  earth  at  present  and  will 
be  for  some  time.  All  the  worst  men  on 
earth  have  come  here  all  kinds  of  crimes 
you  can  imagine  are  committed  here  and  most 
of  them  unpunished  by  law.  A  man  to  live 
in  this  place  must  be  made  of  cast  iron,  but 
a  man  who  has  been  through  the  mill  smut 
machine  and  all  has  no  desire  to  mix  in  with 
that  class  of  people  and  if  he  attends  strictly 
to  business  can  get  along  all  right.  There 
will  be  a  large  quantity  of  money  paid  out 
in  this  country  this  season  and  I  intend  to 
get  some  of  it  if  possible  and  I  will.  I  shall 
divide  my  stock  of  goods  this  summer  and 
take  apart  of  them  west  with  the  intention  of 
closing  out  the  entire  thing  this  fall  and 
come  home.  I  wish  to  be  remembered  to  all 
my  friends, 

I  remain  yours  affectionately, 

A.  C.  BECKWITH. 

You  speak  of  having  bought  a  lot  of  land, 
it  is  a  very  good  thing  to  have  something  in 
view  so  that  a  man  will  be  contented  and 
try  to  save  his  money.  That  is  the  whole 
secret  in  making  a  fortune  if  you  only  save 
one  hundred  a  year  and  compound  that  for 
10  years  you  are  well  off  it  is  no  matter 
whether  your  land  is  worth  any  more  or  not 
at  the  time  it  is  paid  for  your  money  is  safe 
and  all  together  and  if  you  should  want  to 
go  into  business  you  can  always  raise  money 
out  of  that  kind  of  property.  For  instance 
if  I  had  saved  all  the  money  I  have  ever 
handled  I  would  have  had  enough  for  the 
whole  Beckwith  family  I  have  made  and  lost 
a  mint  of  money  but  am  going  very  slow 
from  this  on.  I  landed  in  Cheyenne  the  27th 
day  of  July  last  and  on  the  2nd  day  of  Aug- 
ust had  a  house  built  and  had  a  stock  of 
goods  in  it  and  was  selling  which  was  the 
first  house  in  Cheyenne.  I  bought  one  lot 
and  sold  so  as  to  make  seventeen  hundred 
dollars  since  that  time  the  same  lot  has  Dem, 
sold  at  an  advance  of  3000.  Many  a  man 
made  money  faster  here  last  season  than  the 
best  times  in  California  while  others  came 
here  with  cash  and  are  broke,  now,  but  those 
fellows  had  not  been  through  the  mill.  I 
think  lots  will  be  very  high  this  season.  I 
have  13  lots  besides  the  one  the  store  stands 
on   and  if  any   Eastern  gent  thinks  more  of 


them  than  I  do  he  will  be  very  likely  to  get 
them.  This  will  be  one  of  the  best  stock 
countries  in  the  world  in  a  few  years  as  soon 
as  the  Indians  are  killed  or  driven  out  which 
will  be  by  degrees  as  the  country  settles,  the 
Indians  are  making  considerable  trouble  this 
spring  such  as  killing  a  man  or  two  every 
now  and  then  but  nothing  thought  of  it, 
fires  are  set  often  for  the  purpose  of  plunder 
a  man  killed  nearly  every  night.  But  this  is 
all  in  the  contract  and  nothing  said  about  it. 
I  presume  you  have  all  heard  of  the  great 
Phil  Kearney  massacre  by  the  Indians  I 
was  at  Phil  Kearny  at  the  time  there  was 
81  men  went  out  from  the  fort  and  all  killed 
and  scalped  for  I  helped  to  bring  them  my- 
self and  know  it  is  so.  And  many  a  man  will 
loose  his  life  this  season.  Soldiers  are  no 
earthly  use  among  Indians.  Salt  Lake  trains 
are  commencing  to  come  in  for  their  Mor- 
man  Brethrens  and  goods.  I  think  as  this 
Railroad  will  run  about  80  miles  North  from 
Salt  Lake  City  and  it  being  a  good  farming 
country  and  on  a  direct  (line)  between  Salt 
Lake  and  Montana  this  will  be  the  best  and 
the  largest  City  west  of  the  Missouri  River 
and  the  best  point  for  business  and  one  that 
will  last.  You  did  not  say  how  many  children 
there  was  in  your  mother's  family.  Tell  me 
what  good  wool  socks  are  worth  by  the  large 
quantity  and  dried  fruits  of  all  kinds  that 
grow  in  your  country.  If  this  letter  is  not 
long  enough  say  so  and  I  will  write  the  next 
one  on  a  clothes  line.  My  regards  to  your 
father  and  mother.  Yours  as  ever, 

A.  C.  BECKWITH. 


WYOMING  PIONEER  EXPERIENCES1 

By  A.   L   BROCK 

February,   1923 

I." 

I  will  begin  my  series  of  articles  by  givingi 
the  historical  origin  of  Wyoming.  It  was 
admitted  as  a  Territory  in  1868  and  as  a. 
State  in  1890.  It  contains  about  ninety-seven, 
thousand  square  miles  and  has  wonderful] 
mineral  resources  consisting  of  iron,  copper,, 
soda,  oil  and  immense  coal  deposits.  Agri-i 
cultural  development  is  dependent  mainly  up-i 
on  irrigation,  although  there  are  large  areas, 
now  farmed  by  other  methods.  This  is  a; 
wonderful  stock  country.  The  grasses  are 
very  nutritious  and  stock  of  all  kinds  de-( 
velop  wonderfully  well  in  this  state.  The( 
early  settlers  depended  altogether  on  the 
range  for  their  large  herds  the  year  around, 
cutting  native  hay  for  their  riding,  driving 
and  draft  horses  during  the  winter  months. 
This  hay  is  very  nutritious  and  no  grain  is, 
required. 

The  climatic  condition  varies  according  to 
location.     In  some  parts  of  the  state  there  is, 
very    little    snow    fall,    in    others    it    is    very, 
heavy.     In  some  parts  it  is  very  windy  com- 
pared  with   other    sections.      This    being   the 
case,  the  snow  is  blown  off  the  hills  and  high- 
ground   leaving  the   grass   so   the   stock   can  ' 
have   good   grazing.      In   other   parts   of   the 
country  they  depend  largely  on  the  chinook,! 
winds  which  are  always  warm,  to  remove  the  , 
snow.     I   have  known  the  chinook  winds  tc 
remove   six  or   eight   inches   of   snow  off  of 
a  large  area  of  country  in  a  few  hours,  leav-  ' 


17 


ng  the  ground  covered  with  water  in  many 
ilaces.  This  explains  why  stock  can  winter 
in  this  nutritious  grass  that  cured  during 
he  summer  and  fall.  The  altitude  on  these 
[razing  areas  varies  from  thirty-five  hundred 
o  seven  thousand  feet  and  higher  than  this 
a  the  mountains.  It  gets  very  cold  here  at 
imes,  the  thermometer  registering  forty  de- 
crees below  zero  in  some  sections  of  the 
ountry,  but  the  atmosphere  is  very  dry  and 
he  cold  is  not  so  noticeable  as  in  lower  and 
amper  states.  As  a  rule  there  is  very  little 
yind  when  it  is  real  cold.  We  don't  antici- 
ate  very  much  cold  weather  before  Christ- 
nas.  The  fall  of  the  year  is  usually  very 
ice. 

Wyoming  has  the  distinction  of  being  the 
irst  to  adopt  Woman  Suffrage, 
n  Missouri  I  once  did  roam, 
tut  here  in  Wyoming  is  now  my  home. 

wanted  to  come  West,  a  new  country  to 
see, 
Vhen  I  landed  in  Wyoming  it  looked  good 
to  me. 

pitched  my  tent  and  set  the  stakes  well, 
Vhat   the   future   would  be   I   couldn't   then 

tell, 
it  times  I  was  discouraged  and  blue 
tut  soon   I  realized  that  wouldn't  do. 

-waf  fully  determined  to  work  to  win, 
^o  fail  would  be  a  sin. 
t  is  a  pleasure,  it  is  some  fun 
Vhen  you  realize  you  have  won. 
II 

About  the  middle  of  May  the  various  cow 
utfits  start  out  with  their  cowboys  for  the 
eneral  spring  round  up.  Each  ontfit  con- 
ists  of  a  foreman,  a  round  up  cook,  a  wagon 
aaded  with  supplies  and  drawn  by  four 
orses  that  the  cook  is  supposed  to  drive 
/hile  moving  from  place  to  place.  There 
>  an  additional  wagon  called  the  bed  wagon, 
^his  is  to  haul  the  beds  of  the  cowboys 
mich  consist  of  a  few  blankets  and  sougans 
nclosed  in  a  tarpaulin.  They  spread  their 
ed  on  the  ground  when  they  were  ready 
d  retire  and  rolled  it  up  with  two  straps 
uckled  around  it  when  ready  to  move.  They 
ad  no  tents  and  their  beds  were  wet  at 
mes  for  several  days  and  sometimes  weeks 
t  a  time. 

There  was  also  a  day  and  night  horse 
wrangler  and  twenty  or  thirty  cowboys.  Each 
owboy  was  supposed  to  have  nine  or  more 
ead  of  horses.  There  were  more  or  less 
eps  with  each  wagon  from  other  outfits  to 
ather  and  take  back  cattle  to  their  own 
mge  that  had  strayed  away  during  the  win- 
;r.  This  was  called  the  general  spring  round 
p  when  they  branded  the  calves  and  endea- 
ored  to  get  the  various  brands  of  cattle  on 
heir  own  range.  Later  they  would  have 
heir  beef  round  up  and  more  calf  branding. 

Each  cowboy  was  supposed  to  stand  night 
uard  from  two  to  three  hours,  depending 
n  circumstances.  About  three  o'clock  in  the 
lorning  the  cook  would  be  up  getting  the 
reakfast  ready  and  a  little  later  would  call 
Roll  out"  or  "Come  and  get  it."  By  the 
me  they  got  through  eating  breakfast,  which 
rould  be  about  daylight,  the  night  wrangler 
rou\d  be  in  with  the  horses.  The  horses 
re   put   into   a   corral   consisting  of   a   rope 


fastened  to  posts  driven  in  the  ground  and 
stayed  with  guy  ropes.  After  each  cowboy 
has  roped,  bridled  and  saddled  his  horse  they 
start  out  on  the  long  circle  to  make  the  drive, 
and  probably  ready  for  a  ten  o'clock  meal. 
After  changing  horses  the  herd  is  worked, 
calves  branded  and  the  cattle  they  wish  to 
hold  are  put  into  the  day  herd  and  probably 
another  move  is  made.  The  cook  some- 
times moves  several  miles  after  breakfast  and 
has  dinner  ready  on  time. 

It  is  rather  interesting  to  watch  the  pitch- 
ing horses  at  times  when  they  are  saddled 
of  a  cool  morning.  The  cowboys  are,  as  a 
rule,  a  jolly,  good  natured  lot  of  fellows  and 
will  give  up  their  last  dollar  to  help  a  friend. 

From  some  localities  cattle  had  to  be 
trailed  several  hundred  miles  to  a  shipping 
point  but  when  properly  handled  would  gain 
in  weight  while  being  trailed  to  the  railroad. 

The  Cook's  Call 
Roll  out!     Come  and  get  your  feed. 
The  horses  are  in  so  saddle  your  steed. 
Go  on  the  circle  and  get  out  of  my  way. 
I  have  to  move,  yes  ten  miles  they  say. 
Say  boys,  watch  Johnny  mount  Old  Blue, 
He  is  a  hard  one,  a  regular  hoodoo. 
Watch  him  pitch  and  hear  him  bawl. 
Alas!     Poor  Johnny  got  a  fall. 
Whoop!     Hurrah!     Try  him  again,   I  think 

you  will  stay. 
Don't  spoil  the  horse  by  letting  him  have  his 

way. 
Laugh,  says  Johnny,  you  pin  heads,  laugh, 
You  fellows  couldn't  ride  a  bucking  calf. 
I  will  show  you  boys  what  I  can  do 
By  riding  to  a  finish  the  outlawed  Blue. 
Ill 

Horses  were  handled  similar  to  cattle  but 
didn't  scatter  over  as  large  an  area  and  were 
usually  brought  to  the  ranch  where  suitable 
corrals  were  provided  for  separating  and 
holding  them  while  branding  the  colts  and 
sorting  out  horses  belonging  to  other  parties. 
For  this  work  it  required  saddle  horses  with 
speed  and  endurance  and  riders  that  knew 
how  to  save  their  horses  and  at  the  same 
time  get  results. 

Handling  sheep  is  quite  different  from  cat- 
tle or  horses.  It  is  a  trade  of  itself.  They 
are  handled  in  bands  of  twenty-five  hundred 
to  three  thousand  head.  One  herder  for  each 
band  and  one  camp  tender  for  two  herds. 
Each  herder  had  a  wagon  fitted  out  with  a 
stove,  cooking  utensils,  supplies,  a  bed,  slid- 
ing table,  cupboard,  sliding  drawers  and  many 
other  conveniences.  The  wagon  box  extend- 
ed over  the  wheels  at  each  side  and  a  top 
with  a  door  at  the  front  and  a  window  at  the 
back  was  made  by  stretching  two  layers  of 
heavy  canvas  with  blankets  between  over 
bows.  These  wagons  are  very  comfortable. 
The  camp  tender  moves  these  wagons  from 
time  to  time  in  order  to  keep  the  sheep  on 
good  feed  and  keeps  the  wagons  supplied 
with  provisions,  wood  and  water.  The  sheep 
require  no  water  when  there  is  snow  on  the 
ground.  For  this  the  camp  tender  has  a 
separate  wagon,  a  team  and  saddle  horse, 
but  his  wagon  not  being  equipped  to  live 
in,  he  camps  with  one  of  the  herders.  Dur- 
ing the  winter  months  the  wagons  are  placed 
near  a  high  hill  or  cut  bank  for  protection 


18 


for  the  sheep  against  storms.  During  lamb- 
ing season  several  extra  men  are  required. 
The  herd  is  worked  off  of  the  bed  ground 
each  morning  and  the  ewes  with  young  lambs 
are  left  together  and  a  day  or  two  later  put  in 
with  older  lambs  until  there  is  a  sufficient 
number  for  a  herder  and  when  the  lambs  are 
old  enough  several  of  these  small  bands  are 
put  into  one  herd.  The  main  herd  is  moved 
from  place  to  place  until  the  lambing  is  over. 
Lambs  dropped  during  the  day  are  put  into 
small  bunches.  Flags  and  lanterns  are  put 
out  to  protect  them  from  coyottes  and  with 
some  of  the  bunches  that  are  being  made  up 
a  herder  carries  his  bed  on  a  horse  to  the 
sheep,  unrolls  it  and  sleeps  where  the  sheep 
are.  During  the  lambing  season  there  is  a 
cook  and  wagon  where  several  of  the  lambers 
take  their  meals. 

After  lambing  and  shearing  the  herds  are 
usually  taken  to  the  mountains  for  the  sum- 
mer or  until  shipping  time.  The  sheep  are 
branded  with  some  kind  of  a  paint  brand 
so  they  can  separate  them  in  case  of  a  mix 
with  other  herds.  In  case  of  a  mix  they  are 
taken  to  a  sheep  corral  provided  with  a  chute 
and  dodge  gate  where  they  are  separated  ac- 
cording  to    brands. 

IV 

Outside  of  the  small  towns  the  people 
largely  consisted  of  the  owners  of  cow 
ranches  and  their  cowboys.  There  were  not 
many  families  living  on  ranches  near  me 
when  I  located  here.  Consequently  there 
were  not  many  women.  The  cowboys  spent 
most  of  their  time  at  the  cow  ranches  during 
the  winter  and  riding  the  range  during  the 
spring  and  summer  months.  During  the 
winter. they  would  visit  back  and  forth  among 
the  various  cow  ranches  and  amuse  them- 
selves in  various  ways.  When  some  settler 
and  his  wife  would  give  a  dance  they  would 
be  on  hand  neatly  dressed  and  well  behaved 
in  the  presence  of  ladies.  The  good  ladies 
would  each  bring  a  liberal  supply  of  pies, 
cake  and  other  good  edibles.  They  would 
dance  until  midnight,  the  big  eat  would  then 
be  in  order,  after  which  the  dance  would 
begin  again  and  last  until  after  daylight. 
They  would  then  eat  breakfast  and  probably 
have  a  few  more  dances  and  go  home.  They 
would  have  some  secluded  place  to  put  the 
sleeping  children  and  by  waiting  until  after 
daylight  to  start  home  the  parents  would 
avoid  a  mix  up  with  the  youngsters.  Mrs. 
Brock  and  I  don't  dance  but  would  attend 
the  dances  and  enjoy  meeting  the  people. 
There  never  lived  any  better  neighbors  than 
the  pioneer  people.  It  was  quite  common  to 
go  fifty  miles  to  a  dance  and  if  there  hap- 
pened to  be  a  few  young  girls  they  were  the 
belles  of  the  country  and  it  was  really  very 
amusing  to  see  how  polite  the  cowboys 
would  be.  I  must  say  these  were  good  old 
days  when  each  and  every  one  was  inter- 
ested in  the  others  welfare  and  no  one  was 
deprived  of  hospitality  on  account  of  not 
having  met  before.  If  a  person  drove  up  to 
a  ranch  occupied  by  a  stranger  the  proprie- 
tor would  come  out  and  after  addressing  you 
would  say,  "Get  out  and  come  in,"  and  when 
you  went  to  leave  (which  might  be  the  next 
day)  he  would  say,  "Call  again  any  time  you 
are  in  this  part  of  the  country." 


Our  country  picnics  on  Fourth  of  July 
were  great  events.  I  have  attended  when 
there  was  hot  barbecued  beef  and  fresh  fried 
trout  for  every  person  present,  speaking, 
horse  racing,  dancing  and  other  amusements 
during  the  day  and  a  dance  at  night.  Many 
brought  their  tents  and  camp  beds  with  them, 
prepared  to  stay  over  a  day  or  two.  It  was 
a  very  common  thing  to  see  a  man  taking, 
care  of  the  children  while  his  wife  was  en- 
joying the  dance  and  when  night  came  thei 
camp  beds  were  unrolled  and  the  youngsters 
put  to  bed.  When  the  parents  got  tired  and 
sleepy  they  too  would  retire  and  the  next, 
day  have  a  good  time  visiting  with  their 
neighbors.  Many  of  them  had  probably 
come  forty  or  fifty  miles  or  more. 
V 

When  I  came  here  this  was  a  great  game 
country.  The  low  lands  were  practically  cov- 
ered with  antelope,  especially  on  the  plains. 
Black  tail  deer  were  quite  plentiful  in  the 
rough  and  hilly  sections  and  some  mountain 
sheep  but  they  were  principally  in  the  moun- 
tains. There  were  sage  chickens  all  over 
Wyoming  and  some  willow  grouse.  This 
had  been  a  great  buffalo  country  but  there 
were  not  many  left  when  I  came  here.  The 
Big  Horn  Mountains  near  me  were  covered 
with  elk,  deer,  mountain  sheep,  bear,  wolves, 
coyotes,  foxes,  lions,  etc.  Beaver  were  nu-l 
merous  along  the  streams.  Hunting  fori 
hides,  meat  and  sport  by  settlers,  Indians 
and  tourists  killed  the  game  off  pretty  fast. 
We  had  wild  meat  the  year  around  and  quite 
an  assortment. 

We  seldom  salted  our  meat  until  we  werej 
ready    to    cook    it.      In    this    climate    of    dry, 
pure  air,  meat  will  keep  during  the  fall  and 
winter  months  if  it  is  hung  up  so  the  air  can 
get  to  it  but  will  spoil  if  piled  together.     Dur- 
ing the  summer  months  by  setting  a  perpen- 
dicular pole  thirty  or  forty  feet  high  with  a 
pulley  at  the  top  and  a  rope  to  pull  the  meat 
near  the  top  of  the  pole,  the  meat  will  keep 
fresh   for   several   days.      It  would  be  above 
the   flies  and   the   sun   seemed   to   dry  it  and 
form   a   crush   on   the   outside.      Beef   can  be 
kept  in  the   same  manner.     The  cattle  men) 
had  beef  but  very  few  settlers  owned  cattle, 
not  so  much  as  a  milk  cow  and  so  the  wild  \ 
game   was   quite   a   help   to   the   new   settler, 
but   it   was   some   times   hard   to   get  enough 
other   necessities   to   add   to   the   fresh   meat. 
There  were  very  few  hogs  in  this  section  of» 
the    country    at    that    time    and    poultry   wasj 
very    scarce.      It   was   almost   a   year   before 
I    bought   my    first   poultry   and   almost   two 
years  before  I  got  my  first  milk  cow.     Two  J 
of  the  stock  men  were  kind  enough  to  loan 
me    some   milk   cows   but   wouldn't   sell   one 
here  at  home  on  account  of  the  brand. 

The  deer  meat  is  good  and  the  elk  is  fine 
But    if   you    want    mountain    sheep    you    will  I 

have  to  climb. 
Out  on   the   hills   and  on   the   plains 
There  is  where  the  antelope  range. 

VI  ! 

When    I    came   to   Wyoming   our   supplies 
were   hauled   in   with   horses,   mules   and   ox  ! 
teams    from    Rock    Creek,    a    small    railroad  l 
station    on    the    Union    Pacific    Railroad   two 
hundred  and  thirtv  miles  south   and   east  of 


19 


Buffalo.  Some  of  our  freight  was  hauled 
om  Custer  Junction  on  the  Northern  Pa- 
ific  north  and  west  of  Buffalo.  The  rates, 
ere  during  the  summer  months,  about  one 
ent  per  mile  per  one  hundred  pounds  and 
lore  during  the  winter. 

The  horse  and  mule  outfits  consisted  of 
ight  to  ten  head  and  three  wagons.  Each 
nimal  was  supposed  to  draw  fifteen  hundred 
ounds  and  in  addition  to  this  the  feed  con- 
umed  during  the  trip. 

The  ox  teams  consisted  of  from  seven  to 
ine   yoke   of   cattle   and   three   wagons   and 
'ere    handled     quite     differently     from     the 
orses   or   mules.      With    cattle    they   would 
lake    what    they    called    a    breakfast    drive, 
len  lay  over  during  the  heat  of  the  day  and 
rive  until  after  night  for  the  afternoon  drive. 
.  well  equipped  outfit  would  have  a  wagon 
oss,  cook,  and  day  and  night  herder.     One 
utfit   I   knew  had  one  hundred  and   twenty 
xen.     The  horse  and  mule  outfits  did  their 
wn  cooking  and  horse  wrangling. 
In   1886  the  freight  was  hauled  one  hun- 
red  and  sixty  miles  from  Douglas  which  was 
le  terminus  of  the  North  Western  Railroad, 
id    later    from    Casper,    a    distance    of    one 
undred  and  thirty  miles.     In  1891  the  Bur- 
ngton    Railroad    was    completed    to    within 
grily^five  miles  of  Buffalo.     The  freighting 
as  then  changed  to  the  Burlington,  which 
ter  built  on  through  and  connected  up  with 
lie  Northern  Pacific,  running  to  within  thir- 
f-five  miles  of  Buffalo.     We  freighted  our 
applies  from  this  point  until  the  Wyoming 
ailway  built  from  Clearmont  to  Buffalo, 
/hoa  now  Rock,  and  whoa  now  Rowdy! 
[ove  along!     The  sky  is  cloudy, 
feel  the  mist  and  see  the  rain. 
he  mud  will  be  bad  for  this  train, 
am  hungry,  yes  I  am, 

nd  would  like  a  biscuit  and  a  slice  of  ham. 
/ere  it  not  for  my  sweetheart  back  home 
would  quit  this  job  and  begin  to  roam, 
am  making  some  money,  yes  I  am, 
nd  saving  it,  yes  all  I  can. 
will  take  it  back  home,  you  bet  your  life, 
am  saving  it  for  the  girl  I  want  for  a  wife, 
oor   fellow,   he   is   homesick   and   love   sick, 

the   symptoms   I   know, 
ut  he  will  recover  if  back  home  he  will  go. 

VII 
I  left  Versailles,  Morgan  County,  Missouri, 
jly  10,  1884.  Having  developed  strong  sym- 
toms  of  lung  trouble  I  decided  to  go  to  a 
gh,  dry  climate.  .  After  reaching  Cheyenne, 
/yoming,  by  rail,  D.  C.  Brown  (who  had 
companied  me  from  Versailles)  and  I 
DUght  two  saddle  horses,  bridles,  saddles, 
ime  cooking  utensils,  bedding,  provisions 
id  two  guns  and  started  northwest,  carry- 
g  all  of  our  equipment  on  our  two  saddle 
arses,  camping  out  at  night  with  no  tent, 
fter  traveling  three  hundred  miles  horse- 
ick  we  arrived  at  Buffalo,  Johnson  County, 
l/yoming,  and  located  ten  miles  south  of 
uffalo,  August  1,  1884.  In  September  I 
ent  to  Cheyenne  where  I  met  my  wife  and 
liild.  After  loading  a  four  horse  team  with 
ipplies  we  started  to  our  homestead  three 
Lindred  miles  away.  We  made  the  trip  in 
n  days,  reaching  our  homestead  October  12, 
584. 


We  pitched  our  tent  and  started  on  the 
ground  floor  to  grow  up  with  the  country. 
The  first  thing  was  to  build  a  house.  I  soon 
had  a  one  room  cabin  built  of  pine  logs  haul- 
ed from  the  mountains,  not  showy  but  very 
comfortable.  I  bought  a  second  hand  cook- 
ing stove  that  had  been  hauled  by  an  emi- 
grant from  Colorado.  Out  of  rough  pine 
lumber  I  made  some  furniture  consisting  of 
bedsteads,  tables,  cupboard  and  some  chairs 
and  like  the  cabin  they  were  not  fancy  to 
look  at  but  very  useful  and  comfortable. 
It  is  wonderful  what  an  ingenious  woman  can 
do  to  make  a  home  look  neat  and  tidy  with 
home  made  furniture.  Mrs.  Brock  can  give 
you  some  pointers  along  these  lines. 

I  began  to  improve  in  health  but  improv- 
ing my  ranch  and  paying  our  money  with  no 
income  made  the  sides  of  my  pocket  book 
finally  touch  absolutely  empty.  Well  it  is 
hard  to  down  a  Missouriau  and  keep  him 
down.  Something  had  to  be  done  and  done 
quickly.  I  would  get  out  dry  pine  log  fence 
posts,  corral  poles  and  fence  stays  for  cow 
ranches,  trade  timbers  for  outlawed  horses, 
break  them  to  work  ana  sell  them  for  work 
horses,  and  in  this  way  get  bread  in  the 
house.  When  I  speak  of  a  horse  as  an  out- 
law I  mean  a  horse  that  is  dangerous  to  ride. 
I  took  contracts  fencing  land  and  getting  out 
timbers  for  various  things.  I  took  a  con- 
tract to  fence  three  sections  of  land,  furnish 
the  posts  and  do  the  work,  the  land  owner 
furnished  the  wire  and  in  addition  to  this  I 
got  out  telegraph  poles  for  over  one  hundred 
miles.  My  pocket  book  began  to  look  normal 
again.  I  had  formed  an  acquaintance  with 
some  of  the  business  men  of  the  county  and 
had  some  credit  at  the  store  and  bank  and 
had  lots  of  business.  I  sold  my  ranch,  bought 
another  and  went  into  the  horse  business. 
Later  I  added  sheep  by  taking  them  on  shares 
and  to  these  I  added  cattle.  I  had  been 
rather  active  in  politics  and  was  elected 
County  Commissioner  and  re-elected  at  the 
expiration  of  my  first  term.  At  the  expira- 
tion of  my  second  term  I  was  elected  to 
the  legislature.  Later  on  I  was  again  elect- 
ed for  the  four  year  term  as  County  Com- 
missioner and  again  elected  to  the  Legislature 
in  1912.  Since  that  time  I  have  refused  all 
offers  to  accept  an  office.  I  never  asked  for 
an  office  nor  asked  any  one  to  vote  for  me. 

VIII 

I  could  relate  enough  personal  experiences 
to  make  a  large  book  but  will  give  them  to 
you  in  a  condensed  form.  I  have  previously 
outlined  to  you  the  methods  and  customs  of 
handling  cattle,  horses  and  sheep.  I  have 
had  experience  in  each  line  of  cow  work  from 
cowboy  to  foreman  and  general  manager.  I 
know  what  it  is  to  sleep  in  a  wet  bed  and 
know  how  a  fellow  feels  getting  out  of  his 
bed  when  the  night  is  dark  and  the  rain  com- 
ing down,  my  horse  and  saddle  wet,  the  cat- 
tle restless  and  the  night  so  dark  you  didn't 
know  when  your  horse  might  step  into  a 
prairie  dog  or  badger  hole  and  turn  over  with 
you,  but  these  things  are  a  part  of  the  trade. 

I  have  handled  all  parts  of  the  horse  busi- 
ness and  there  is  no  part  of  the  sheep  busi- 
ness that  I  haven't  taken  part  in.  I  was  in 
the   sheep  business  almost  twenty-six  years 


20 


and  sometimes  had  four  winter  bands  or 
about  twelve  thousand  head  and  to  this  would 
be  added  the  lamb  crop  for  the  summer  or 
until  shipping  time.  I  handled  horses  for 
many  years  and  am  still  in  the  cattle  busi- 
ness. I  know  what  it  is  to  make  long  rides 
and  drives  and  know  what  it  means  for  a 
running  horses  to  turn  over  and  fall  on  me. 
I  know  what  it  is  to  rope  and  tie  down  horses 
and  cattle,  to  ride  pitching  horses  and  to  be 
mounted  on  the  hurricane  deck  of  a  runaway 
bronc.  I  have  experienced  the  sensation  of 
laying  out  over  night  with  blanket  and  slicker 
for  a  bed  and  a  saddle  for  a  pillow  and  noth- 
ing to  eat.  It  won't  do  for  me  to  go  into  the 
details  of  my  personal  experiences  for  it 
would  take  too  long  to  tell  it  and  no  one  ex- 


cept  those  who  have  had  similar  experiences 
can  realize  the  danger  and  hardships  that  we! 
sometimes  had  to  contend  with.  While  II 
have  a  few  scars  as  reminders,  yet  at  the 
age  of  sixty-five  years,  I  am  still  in  the  ring. 
Since  coming  to  Wyoming  I  have  crossed 
the  United  States  from  the  Aaltntic  to  the 
Pacific  east  and  west,  and  from  Canada  to 
the  Gulf  north  and  south.  My  family  spent 
four  years  in  California  where  the  orange 
blossoms  grow.  I  was  with  them  during  the 
winter  months,  but  Mrs.  Brock  and  I  often 
speak  of  the  good  old  days  when  our  ranch 
was  like  a  free  hotel  for  all  comers  and  goers. 
It  is  with  pleasant  memories  we  think  of 
some  of  our  pioneer  days. 
February.   1923. 


ACCESSIONS 
Museum 
Gj£ts From  April  1st  to  July  1st,  1924 

Stone,  Mrs.  Charles 2  films  of  interior  of  old  Chinese  Joss-House  in  Evanston,  Wyo. 

2  blue  prints  of  street  scene  in  Evanston  on  Chinese  New  Year. 

Ruff,  Mrs.  H.  A 2  photos  Off  Chinese  men  residents  in  Evanston. 

Watts    Mr.  A.  E Gun  collection;  two  wood  carvings  by  Indian  boy. 

Hovt    Mr.  Percy Framed  Union  Paicfic  Folder,  November  2nd,  1873. 

Framed  picture  Alert  Hose  Company,  1877-1890. 

Bonsel,  Mr.  W.  A One  buffalo  horn. 

Logan,  Mr.  E.  A Picture  of  Chief  Washakie. 

.  Picture  of  Cheyenne  in  1915. 

Sherman,  Mr.  J.  G Tomb-stone  date  1857,  from  ruins  of  old  Fort  Laramie. 

Tones,  Lena  Lukens Blue  heron  killed  on  Little  Bear  Creek,  Wyoming. 

Cole,  Mr.  C.  W Picture  Durant  Fire  Company,  1868-1905. 

Buffalo  skull,  found  near  Cheyenne. 

Whisler,  Virgil  Indian  arrow  head,  found  near  Pine  Bluffs. 

Hebard,'  Dr.   G.   R Kodak  Pictures. 

Purchase  2  Kodak  Pictures. 

Stafford,  Charles  1  Kodak  Picture 

Gifts—  Library 

R.  B.  Brown  and  pupils....  Souvenir  History  of  Jackson  Hole. 

Kuykendall,  Mr.  H.  L Original  Manuscript. 

Wagner,  Mr.  Henry  (Jr.)  Original  Manuscript. 

Fourt,  Mr.  E.  H Original  Manuscript. 

Spaeth,   Miss   Elizabeth....  Original  Manuscript. 

Bartley,  Air.  E.  T Hopper  Diary,  1863. 

Bruce,  Air.  Robert  Wyoming  Historical  Sketch. 

Chapman,  Air.  M.  A Two  photostat  copies  of  legal  documents  1792,  1850. 

Skepper,  J.  W Letters. 

Hunton,  Air.  John  Letter — Coutant  to   Hunton. 

Gordon,  Air.  J.  H Original  Poem. 

Shipp,  Air.  E.  R Original  Poem. 

Hunter,  Airs Original  Poem. 

Alissouri  Historical 

Society    -  "Journey  to  Rocky  Alountains  1839" — Dr.  Wizlineus. 

"Three  Years  Among  Indians  and  Alexicans" — James. 

(Drumm)  "Luttig's  Journal  of  a  Fur  Trading  Expedition,"  in  1812-1813. 

Brown,  Air.  Jesse  "The 'Black  Hills  Trails,"  by  Brown  &  Willard. 

Snow,  Airs.  W.  E -  Alanuscript. 

Owen,  C.  AI 2  Original  Alanuscripts. 

Purchased  by  the  Department 
Crofut's  Transcontinental  Pacific  Tourist,"  1868-1869. 
Photostat  records  and  maps  of  earlv  Forts  in  Wvoming  in  1868-1869. 
Gift- 
Freeman,  Luther  Original  Army  Letter. 

Loans 

Thompson,  Air.  C.  AI Certificate  of  characters,  1774. 

Brooks,  Airs.  B.  B Old  legal  document,  1786. 

Gifts —  Miscellaneous 

Holland,  Air.  AI Cheyenne  in  1888.     (pamphlet.) 

Schilling,  Airs.  Fred Advertising  posters  display. 

Coble,  Airs.  John  List  of  Wyoming  Resorts  and  ranches. 


"y-y-r^l 


fii^^^r- £l 


HISTORICAL  DEPARTMENT 


QUARTERLY  BULLETIN 


Vol.  2 


Cheyenne,  November  1,  1924 


No.  2 


As  an  appropriate  observance  of  George  Washing 
ton's  birthday,  an  appointment  was  arranged  with 
Hon.  George  W.  T.  Beck,  a  collateral  descendant  of 
George  Washington.  There  in  the  conservatory  of  his 
old  stone  mansion  at  Cody,  I  listened  to  reminiscences 
of  the  "Governor's"  life,  and  by  reading  saffron  let- 
ters, and  much  questioning,  gleaned  not  a  little  of 
romance  from  the  sidelights  on  the  reminiscences.  And 
thus  was  enjoyed  contact  with  the  thought  which 
had  been  one  of  the  "First  Families  of  Wyoming," 
(as  well  as  Virginia)  to  push  onward  the  borders 
of  freedom.  The  foundation  for  the  following  story 
is  to  be  found  verbatim  in  the  State  Historical  Ar- 
chives. 

It  was  indeed  a  felicitous  manner  in  which  to 
spend  this  holiday,  and  most  edifying  to  come  under 
the  spell  of  the  Governor's  perfect  English,  modified 
by  the  soft  cadences  of  his  southern  accent.  "Gov- 
ernor" is  a  term  of  endearment  used  by  his  contem- 
poraries,   a    mantle   that    fits   him    well. 

This     story     might     well     be    called     "From     Mount 

Vernon    to    Cedar    Mountain,"    and    will    weave    in    the 

•elation    of    the    East-Yesterday    with    the    West-Today, 

even    as    the    blood    that    fought    for    National    freedom 

has   been   transplanted    to   the- Great   West. 

True,  there  was  the  frontier  border  fringe  of  the 
untamed,  unschooled,  unlettered,  which  had  to  be 
reckoned  with,  but  these  indomitable  scouts  led  on 
and  dominated,  to  the  end  that  there  has  been  devel- 
oped in  Cody  a  cultured  mentality,  national  from 
many  angles,  in  that  through  it  filter  the  tens  of  thou- 
sands to  Yellowstone  Park ;  here  are  two  Govern- 
ment Departments,  the  Interior  in  the  great  Rec- 
lamation work,  and  the  Agricultural,  the  Forest  Ser- 
vice, with  its  "oldest  Forest  in  the  United  States." 
Here  also  is  a  National  Monument,  Shoshone  Cavern. 
And  this  month,  July  4,  brings  to  pass  the  unveiling 
of  a  Memorial  to  Colonel  Cody,  which  it  is  thought 
in  a  future  time  will  be  brought  under  Government 
supervision.  Indeed  the  mental  tenor  of  the  town  is 
pre-eminently  national.) — Writer's  Note,  by  Margaret 
Hayden. 


GEORGE  W.  T.  BECK 
"Wyoming"  —  the  first  I  knew  of  Wyo- 
ming was  when  as  a  boy  I  was  with  my 
father  in  Washington  after  the  Civil  War. 
He  was  fighting  the  battles  of  reconstruction, 
and  getting  Southern  men  back  to  their 
homes.  (He  served  eight  years  in  the  House, 
and  was  serving  a  third  term  in  the  Senate 
at  the  time  of  his  death.) 

Simon  Cameron,  Republican  Senator  from 
Pennsylvania,.- became  a  close  friend  of  my 
father;  they  were  both  Scotch,  my  father 
having  been  born  in  Dumfries,  Scotland. 

I  remember  Senator  Simon  Cameron  nam- 
ing a  new  piece  of  land  out  in  the  West, 
marked  on  the  maps  when  I  was  a  boy  as 
"a  territory  attached  to  Dakota."  The  Sen- 
ator was  chairman  of  Committee  on  Terri- 
tories and  named  th£  new  territory  "Wyo- 
ming," after  the  Valley  of  Wyoming  in  Penn- 
sylvania. This  was  in  '68.  I  remember  my 
father  made  some  definite  remarks  about  it 
at  the  time — he  didn't  want  any  more  north- 
ern states  as  it  made  more  northern  sen- 
ators, but,  my  father  said,  "If  I  were  young, 


I  should  go  there."  This  stuck  in  my  mem- 
ory. There  was  at  that  time  no  population 
to  speak  of — just  a  wilderness — a  few  United 
States  forts  with  soldiers  to  guard  and  pro- 
tect the  emigrant  trails. 

Asked  about  the  large  oil  portrait  paintings 
on  the  walls  of  the  spacious  living  room. 
Mr.  Beck  said  they  were  of  his  father  and 
mother  directly  after  "their  marriage.  And 
that  reminded  him  of  a  copy  of  a  letter  from 
his  father  to  Col.  L.  ( Lucius)  Q.  Washing- 
ton, one  of  the  Washington  family,  of  which 
the  following  is  a  true  copy: 

"United  States  Senate, 
Washington,   D.   C, 
April  25,  "89. 
Col.  L.  Q.  Washington: 

Seeing  that  you  are  taking  some  interest 
in  the  Washington  family,  and  knowing  the 
friendship  that  always  existed  between  you 
and  my  wife,  I  desire  to  say  to  you  that 
very  few,  if  any,  were  more  nearly  related 
to  "General  Washington   than   she. 

Her  great  grandfather,  Francis  Thornton, 
married  Fannie  Gregory,  whose  mother  was 
Mildred  Washington,  the  aunt  and  god- 
mother of  General  Washington.  Their  son. 
Col.  John  Thornton  (Mrs.  Beck's  grandfa- 
ther) married  Jane  Augusta  Washington, 
daughter  of  Augustine  Washington,  the  Gen- 
eral's bjother.  Their  only  son  who  reached 
manhoo"d  was   Mrs.   Beck's  father. 

By  General  Washington's  will  a  large  por- 
tion of  his  Kanawha  lands  were  divided  be- 
tween his  sister,  Bettie  Lewis,  and  his  niece. 
Jane  Thornton,  Mrs.  Beck's  grandmother. 
We  got  about   1,000  acres  of  these  lands. 

You  will  observe  that  the  relationship  is 
very  close,  both  on  the  father  and  mother 
side,  so  that  my  child.  Miss  Bettie  Goodloe, 
and  my  son,  George  Thornton  Beck,  are 
about  as  closely  related  to  General  Washing- 
ton as  any  of  their  age. 

I  thought  yon  might  like  to  know  the 
facts. 

Yours  truly, 
(Signed)"    J.  B.  BKCK." 

The  names  "Betty"  or  "Bettie,"  "Jane," 
and  "Thornton,"  are  Washington  family 
names  and  are  the  names  of  the  three  chil- 
dren of  the  family  which  made  Cody's  first 
history.  Both  daughters,  Betty  and  Jane. 
received  their  formative  education  at  the  old 
home  city  of  the  ancestors  in  the  District 
of  Columbia,  preferring  to  be  graduated, 
however,  from  the  State  University  or  Wyo- 
ming. The  elder  daughter,  Betty  Goodloe, 
took  a  postgraduate  course  at  Columbia  Urn- 


(Copyright,    1924) 


22 


QUARTERLY  BULLETIN 

Published  by  the  Wyoming  State  Historical 
Department 


State  Historical  Board 

Governor — William  B.  Ross* 
Secretary  of  State — F.  E.  Lucas 
State  Librarian — Flo  La  Chapelle 


State  Historian — Mrs.  Cyrus  Beard 
Secretary  of  the  Board 


Advisory  Board 

Rt.  Rev.  P.  A.  McGovern,  Cheyenne 
Dr.  Grace  R.  Hebard,  Laramie 
Mr.   P.  W.  Jenkins,  Cora 
Airs.  Willis  M.  Spear,  Sheridan 
Mr.  R.  D.  Hawley,  Douglas 
Miss   Margery   Ross,  Cody 
Mrs.  E.  T.  Raymond,  Newcastle 
Mr.  E.  H.  Fourt,  Lander 

Contents 

George  T.  Beck Margaret  Hayden 

Diary. Major  A.   B.  Ostrander 

Handling  the  Mail  at  Fort  Reno 

Major  A.   B.   Ostrander 

From  Fort  Reno  to  Fort  Phil  Kearny 

Major  A.  B.  Ostrander 

My:  First  Day  at  Ft.   Phil  Kearny 

- ; Major  A.   B.   Ostrander 

Letter Van  Voast,  to  Freeman 

Historical  Sketch Patrick  A.  McGovern 

Sheridan  County From  Coutant  Notes 

Sheridan  County,  History,  Loucks 

..From   Coutant   Notes 

Maghee   Letter From   Coutant   Notes 

Among  the   Books Historian 

Accessions Historian 

In  Memoriam  ...Historian 


versity,  majoring  in  geology  and  law.  She 
has  since  married  Dr.  Doyle  Joslin,  her  wed- 
ding garment  being  lace  of  the  third  gener- 
ation. 

At  this  point  it  was  interesting  to  see 
another  Southern-Western  name,  Buckner, 
showing  the  connection  with  our  Cody  fam- 
ily. "Yes,"  said  the  Governor,  Montgomery 
Blair,  postmaster-general  in  Lincoln's  cabi- 
net, married  Caroline  Buckner.  And  glanc- 
ing further  at  the  old  musty  book  was  seen 
this  entry  from  the  family  Bible  of  long  ago: 
"Margaret  Buckner  married  George  Wash- 
ington Thornton,"  and,  said  my  host,  "they 
are  my  mother's  father  and  mother."  At  this 
time  Mr.  Beck  showed  me  a  letter,  post- 
marked at  Washington,  July  6,  '45,  folded 
and  sealed  with  wax,  before  envelopes  were 
used,  with  the  fascinating  but  unheeded  in- 
*Deceased. 


scription,  "Please  tear  this  up."  It  was  here 
T  sensed  a  breath  of  romance  and  was  per- 
mitted to  read  it  "after  the  history  lesson." 
With  this  promise  we  wrote  more  history, 
and  the  following  is  the  Lincolnia: 

"That  was  the  first  time  I  saw  Lincoln. 
Kentucky  was  getting  so  bad  my  father  took 
all  the  family  East  to  Washington,  and  I 
went  with  my  father  and  my  uncle,  Mont- 
gomery Blair.  We  went  to  the  White  House 
and  I  saw  Lincoln  for  the  first  time.  Lin- 
coln was  nice  to  me,  a  Southern  boy,  as  he 
always  was  to  children.  (I  was  then  seven 
years  of  age.)  The  next  time  I  saw  him  I 
had  gone  to  Philadelphia  to  school,  and  I 
saw  his  sarcophagus  carried  down  Arch 
Street.  There  was  enormous  excitement  and 
a  parade,  Philadelphia  being  the  strongest 
of  Union  cities.  This  was  about  three  years 
later. 

Here  follows  a  copy  of  a  letter  from  Miss 
Elizabeth  Blair  to  my  mother.  Elizabeth 
married  a  cousin  of  Robert  E.  Lee,  after- 
ward an  Admiral  in  the  U.  S.  Navy  on  the 
northern  side.  This  is  the  letter  previously 
referred  to,  postmarked  at  Washington,  dated 
July  6,  '45: 
"My  dear  Jane: 

I  have  not  heard  from  you  since  leaving 
Washington,  but  suppose  you  reached  home 
safely,  and  not  without  many  regrets  at  part- 
ing with  "Cousin  William."  He  feels  the 
loss  of  your  society  so  very  deeply,  that  I 
expect  he  never  leaves  his  home,  for  in  all 
my  wanderings  I  have  never  met  him.  Do 
you  expect  to  see  him  soon?  I  hear  thai 
you  are  going  to  the  north,  and  as  I  have 
at  last  determined  to  take  a  trip  to  Saratoga, 
[  thought  you  might  like  to  join  me.  it  is 
so  much  pleasanter  to  have  company  when 
traveling.  Pa  has  given  me  but  short  notice 
— ten  days  to  get  ready.  He  wishes  to  leavd 
here  on  the  15th  of  this  month.  Now  what 
do  you  think  of  it?  You  had  better  go  for 
Pa  is  a  first-rate  traveler,  going  about  so 
much  as  he  lias  done,  and  then  he  knows  a 
great  many  persons,  gentlemen  and  others, 
that  we  could  be  introduced  to,  so  on  that 
account  alone  we  could  have  a  pleasanter 
time  than  otherwise  we  should  have.  I  have- 
written  to  an  aunt  who  perhaps  will  go  to 
matronize  me,  but  I  cannot  say  for  certain.,! 
as  I  have  had  no  answer  yet  to  my  letter, 
Capt.  Hardy  talks  of  going,  so  we'll  each  have 
a  beau  all  to  ourselves. 

Having  set  before  you   these  inducements 
I    hope    you    will    conclude    to    go    with    me 
We  can  have  plenty  of  fun  together.     I   wil 
introduce  you  to  some  of  my  friends,  and  wi 
can   trip   it   up   and   down    Broadway,   at   ouiJ 
pleasure.     I  believe   I   forgot  to  tell  you  tha'l 
I    shall    make    my    first    stay    at    the    Sharon 
Springs,   a   few   miles   from   Saratoga.      They 
are  equally  pleasant  and  I  give  them  prefer 
ence   because   the    Dr.    has   ordered    me   then 
for  my  health.     The  waters  are  the  same  a: 
the    White    Sulphur    of    Virginia.      The    Dri 
says  my   liver,   not   my   heart,   is  affected, 
have    lately    come    to    the    conclusion    that 
have    no   heart,    its    place    being   supplied    b;j 
liver.      Positive  truth!      Margaret   is  going  t' 
leave  school  in  three  weeks  and  is  delightea 


J 


23 


Last  night  I  was  awakened  by  a  charming 
serenade,  but  unfortunately  felt  too  sleepy 
to  listen.  Pa  invited  them  in,  which  put 
them  all  in  such  excellent  spirits  that  I  was 
afraid    they   would   play   all   night. 

James  Selden  stayed  here  last  night  until 
1 1  o'clock.  We  became  so  tired  and  sleepy 
that  we  struck  up  "Oh,  we're  all  nodding,  nid, 
bid,  nodding,"  and  we  nidded  and  nodded 
until  he  was  so  affronted  that  he  marched 
off.  I  think  it  was  a  first-rate  hint,  but  he 
is  quite  mad.  However,  I  do  not  intend 
crying   if   he   is. 

This  is  the  only  news  I  can  tell  you,  for 
it  is  dull  here,  beyond  description. 

I 'lease  give  my  love  to  your  grandmother 
and  Virginia,  and  it  will  oblige  me  very 
much  if  you  answer  this  directly,  for  if  you 
do  not  go  with  me,  I  must  look  out  for  some 
lady  to  keep  me  company  on  my  travels.  I 
would  rather  have  you  though.  We  can 
have  fun. 

1  am  dreadfully  lazy  this  morning  or  I 
would  not  send  you  such  a  miserable  scrawl. 
I  will  depend  upon  you  to  tear  it  up  as  soon 
as  you  have  deciphered  it,  for  I  would  not 
send  it  if  I  thought  any  one  else  should 
see  it. 

Good-bye, 

Your  friend, 
^  ELIZABETH. 

Capt.  Hardy  desires  his  best  compliments 
:o  the  lovely  Miss  Jane  and  hopes  he  is  not 
:orgotten.  If  you  come  down  to  Washing- 
ion,  come  soon. — E. 

Then  the  "Governor"  told  me  how  his 
nother,  a  wealthy  belle  of  Virginia,  had  in- 
ferred the  displeasure  of  that  State  by  mar- 
•ying  a  "foreigner." 

"My  grandmother,  having  married  Gover- 
lor  Clark,  of  Kentucky,  was  living  in  Frank- 
ort,  the  Capital  of  Kentucky.  My  mother 
anie  from  Virginia  to  visit  her  mother.     My 

ather    was    a    young    lawyer    at    Lexington,  I  falo'  calf   hide    with    fur   insjde  beU 

vhere  he  met  my  mother,  with  the  result  of    he  had  three  scaips>     As  the  other  men  had 


me  about  my  education.  I  told  them  I  had 
been  to  Rensselaer  Polytechnic,  Troy  N  Y 
so  he  sent  me  out  to  Mandan,  S.  Dak.',  where 
I  joined  an  engineering  party,  and  set  to 
work  making  notes  and  sketching  the  coun- 
try along  the  line  of  a  survey.  Soon  I  was 
running  a  rod  and  then  a  level.  Then  came 
winter  and  we  stopped  at  a  cantonment  we 
built  on  the  Little  Missouri,  just  west  of  what 
is  now  Medora.  The  Sioux  had  gone  to  Can- 
ada and  has  not  yet  come  back  since  the 
Custer  right.  We  had  a  guard  of  soldiers 
and  a  number  of  Grosventres  scouts. 

The  spring  of  79  I  concluded  to  go  West 
so  organized  a  party,  ten  in  all.  Three 
friends  of  mine  who  had  never  been  west 
joined  me— Sedgwick  Rice,  from  St.  Paul, 
Hamilton  Headley,  of  Lexington,  Ky.,  and 
Albm   Prince   Dike,  of  Brooklyn,  N.   Y. 

We  had  two  teams,  ten  horses,  and  a  good 
outfit,  and  struck  west  from  the  end  of  the 
Northern  Pacific  survey,  crossing  the  Little 
Missouri,  Rosser  Creek,  climbed  over  high 
mesas,  and  went  westerly  towards  the  Yel- 
lowstone River.  There  were  no  roads,  of 
course,  but  being  engineers  we  did  not  get 
lost.  We  were  sometimes  short  of  water. 
One  day  we  had  no  water,  so  pushed  forward 
to  reach  a  fringe  of  timber  which  indicated 
a  creek.  Far  in  advance  we  heard  heavy 
firing.  We  concluded  it  must  be  buffalo 
hunters.  On  towards  evening  we  came  to 
the  creek  and  there  we  found  three  dead 
Indians  and  the  whole  country  torn  up  with 
horse  tracks.  This  was  Cabin  Creek,  I  think, 
a  small  sized  stream  but  with  plenty  of  wa- 
ter. The  western  men  with  me  in  the  party 
took  everything  these  three  Indians  had. 
They  had  nothing  on  but  paint  from  their 
waists  up,  but  one  was  the  finest  dressed 
Indian  I  ever  saw.  He  had  on  a  fine  belt 
and  his  breeches  were  bautifully  marked 
buckskin.     His  moccasins  were  made  of  buf- 


.  love-match,  and  they  were  married.  The 
Virginia  relatives  were  so  furious  at  her  mar- 
ying  a  "foreigner"  that  for  many  years  none 
f  them  would  speak  to  her,  as  my  father 
las  born  in  southeastern  Scotland  on  the 
auks  of  the  Salwav   Firth. 

When  I  was  21  I  left  Washington  and 
,-ent  to  Leadville  during  the  first  excite- 
lent,  on  a  prospecting  trip.     From  Leadville 

went  to  the  southeastern  part  of  the  Ute 
'cservation  on  the  Grand  River.  My  father 
ot  a  message  to  me  to  come  to  St.  Paul. 
.s    I    thought  perhaps  my  mother  was   sick, 

went.  I  had  planned  with  two  old  pros- 
ectors (John  Haskell  and  Jim  Bird)  to  go 
)  New  Mexico  and  then  to  winter  in  Old 
lexico.  But  when  I  got  to  St.  Paul  my 
ither  suggested  that  he  did  not  think  pros- 
acting  was  a  legitimate  way  of  making  a 
ling,  and  wished  me  to  go  to  go  into  either 
w  or  engineering,  as  I  had  been  educated 
>r  both.  I  did  not  like  the  law,  so  I  decided 
)    try    engineering,    and    with    that    in    view 

went  to  see  General  Rosser,  Chief  Engi- 
?er  of  the  Northern  Pacific  Railroad.  I 
Iced  him  for  some  work.  He  told  me  they 
ere  turning  away  men  then,  I  said  1 
ould    take    any    kind    of    a    job.      He    asked 


taken  everything  else  I  concluded  to  take  the 
scalps.  They  had  made  me  captain  of  the 
party,  and  I  had  the  first  rebellion  then  and 
there,  as  I  said,  "Here  we  camp,"  and  they 
said,  "No,  we  will  travel!"  and  we  did.  Day- 
light came  early,  we  traveled  until  nearly 
light,  camped  for  an  hour  and  after  break- 
fast traveled  all  day,  and  that  night  struck 
the  Yellowstone  River.  There  we  found  a 
large  Indian  village  on  the  north  side  of  the 
river.  They  were  the  Sioux  Indians  coming 
down  for  a  powwow  with  Colonel  Miles,  who 
was  commanding  Fort  Keough.  We  had  a 
great  night  with  the  Indians  yelling,  dancing, 
and  beating  tomtoms.  We  watched  each 
other  all  night — the  Indians  on  the  north 
hank  of  the  Yellowstone  and  we  on  the 
south.  We  went  on  in  the  morning  and 
reached  Fort  Keough  that  night.  The  In- 
dians stayed  at  their  camp  for  a  while  and 
finally  came  down  and  surrendered  to  Col. 
Nelson  Miles.  They  were  then  put  on  a 
reservation  in  Dakota  east  of  the  Black  Hills. 
The  Indian  fight  that  we  had  been  behind 
was  between  a  war  party  of  the  Sioux  who 
made  a  raid  on  the  Grosventres  and  stole  a 
large  number  of  their  horses.  The  Grosven- 
tres were  pursuing  them  but  did  not  succeed 


24 


in  recovering  their  stolen  property  and  lost 
a  good  many  men.  The  Sioux  made  the 
raid  because  the  Grosventres  belong  to  the 
Sioux  nation  and  had  refused  to  join  the 
other  Indians  in  the  Custer  fight.  I  knew 
Colonel  Miles  and  his  wife,  who  had  been  a 
Miss  Sherman,  and  in  talking  to  the  Colonel 
about  the  country  he  said,  "Of  all  this  coun- 
try I  have  seen,  I  think  the  Tongue  River 
and  Goose  Creek  is  the  best." 

We  stayed  around  Fort  Keough  for  a 
short  time,  and  Sedgwick  Rice  there  con- 
cluded to  quit  our  party  and  later  joined  the 
army.  He  is  now  Colonel  commanding  Fort 
Brown,  Brownsville,  Texas. 

The  rest  of  us  struck  west  toward  the 
Musselshell  country,  and  then  seeing  the 
mountains  to  the  south,  which  turned  out  to 
be  the  Big  Horns,  we  remembered  what  Col- 
onel Miles  had  said,  and  we  went  south, 
crossing  the  Wyoming  line,  across  Tongue 
River,  Wolf  Creek  and  Soldier  Creek  and 
Big  Goose  Creek,  and  camped  on  that  creek 
a  few  miles  below  its  canyon.  As  we 
crossed  the  divide  between  Soldier  Creek 
and  Goose  Creek,  I  killed  a  deer  and  left 
it  for  the  wagons  to  pick  up.  I  then  went 
down  the  small  creek  which  we  called  Park 
Creek. 

I  found  everything  I  was  looking  for — 
fuel,  grass,  water.  So  I  got  a  stake  and 
wrote  my  name  on  it  and  made  a  claim  on 
which  I   lived  for  many  years. 

We  had  crossed  Big  Goose  Creek  at  a 
point  where  the  old  Bozeman  trail  crossed 
it,  and  going  about  a  mile  up  creek  we  made 
a  camp  for  our  outfit.  Then  I  tried  to  per- 
suade the  party  to  locate  there  as  I  had 
done.  As  there  was  a  great  deal  of  game, 
tine  fishing,  and  a  great  many  prairie  chick- 
ens and  grouse,  the  party  consented  to  remain 
while  I  made  a  survey. 

I  surveyed  what  is  now  Beckton  down  to 
the  upper  end  of  what  is  now  Sheridan, 
taking  about  nine  miles  of  Big  Goose  Creek 
— one  claim  for  each  of  the  party. 

Unfortunately,  the  western  men  in  the 
party  had  seen  results  obtained  in  killing 
buffalo  along  the  Yellowstone  River  and 
they  were  anxious  to  go  back  to  the  buffalo 
range,  many  hunters  making  from  $3,000 
to  $5,000  in  "a  season  selling  the  hides  to  the 
steamboat  traders  who  came  up  the  river, 
eventually  going  to  St.  Louis  to  be  tanned 
for  leather."  So  when  a  little  difficulty  oc- 
curred in  our  party,  it  broke  up  and  I  de- 
termined to  stay  by  myself.  When  it  came 
to  a  settling  up  they  claimed  all  the  horses, 
though  I  had  paid  for  a  pair.  They  were 
anxious  to  get  me  to  go,  as  I  was  a  good 
shot  and  they  wanted  me  to  shoot  the  buf- 
falo, while  they  skinned  and  hauled,  so  in 
order  to  force  me  they  claimed  the  horses, 
1  proposed  we  leaye  it  to  the  oldest  man 
in  the  party,  as  he  had  no  interest  in  the 
horses,  but  he  was  an  old  hunter  and  loved 
the  wilds.  Then  we  had  our  law  suit  before 
this  oldest  man.  He  declared  that  though 
1  had  put  up  the  money,  the  bill  of  sale  in 
that  country  always  carried  the  title  and  they 
had  that.  I  asked  them  to  pay  me  the  $375 
I  had  paid — didn't  think  they  could — but  they 


raised  the  cash  and  paid  me.  That  left  me 
with  a  wagon,  harness  and  outfit,  but  no 
horses.  I  asked  for  the  horses  for  a  few 
hours,  and  hitched  them  to  the  wagon,  put 
everything  I  owned  in  it  (I  had  a  good  out- 
fit), and  drove  down  the  creek  across  the 
old  Bozeman  crossing  and  went  up  Park 
Creek  to  where  I  had  put  my  stake,  and  in 
a  little  bend  of  the  road  there  was  a  nice, 
grassy  bottom.  I  pulled  my  wagon  in  close 
to  the  bush  where  it  would  be  well  concealed 
and  took  the  horses  back  to  the  party;  then 
walked  down  and  waded  the  creek  about 
waist  deep  to  get  back  to  my  wagon.  As 
the  party  pulled  out  the  next  morning  they 
went  up  the  valley  opposite  where  I  was 
camped.  My  friend  Dike  jumped  off  the 
wagon,  and  came  over  and  asked  me  if  I 
was  going  to  stay  there  by  myself.  I  told 
him  I  was  and  he  said  he  would  like  to  stay 
with  me.  I  told  him  as  he  had  no  horses 
either,  he  had  better  go,  but  he  said  if  I  was 
willing  he  would  stay.  So  he  ran  and  caught 
up  with  the  wagon  and  threw  his  bed  and 
war  bag  off.  He  was  about  one-half  mile 
up  the  valley.  The  fellows  never  stopped 
and  Dike  had  to  run  to  catch  up  and  get  his 
bed  and  other  things  off.  I  didn't  go  to- 
ward them  until  I  saw  he  was  throwing 
things  off,  and  dragging  his  bed  and  war 
bag.  Then  1  met  him  and  helped  him  carry 
things  to  camp.  It  was  great  fun;  there  we 
were  135  miles  from  the  Yellowstone.  We 
stayed  a  day  or  two  in  camp  fixing  up  things, 
then  made  a  cache  of  the  nuts  off  the  wagon, 
being  afraid  some  one  would  steal  it.  Then 
for  our  bread  we  cooked  some  meat  until 
it  was  hard  and  dry,  and  the  fresh  game  we 
shot  we  used  for  meat.  Then  we  started 
down  Big  Goose  Creek.  We  didn't  know- 
where  we  were  going  but  \ye  did  know  Big 
Goose  Creek  flowed  into  Tongue  River,  and 
that  it  was  not  more  than  60  miles  to  Miles 
City  where  we  could  get  horses.  But  that- 
was  immaterial.  We  finally  came  to  a  man! 
on  the  site  what  is  now  Sheridan.  His  name 
was  Philip  Mandell,  and  he  had  four  horses.^ 
We  were  delighted  to  find  he  was  willing  to 
sell  two  of  them.  He  said  they  were  broke 
to  ride  and  drive.  We  paid  $175  for  the  two, 
and  then  we  drew  straws  for  the  horses  to 
see  "which  would  have  which."  Dike  drew  \ 
one  that  was  slightly  swayback.  The  one  I 
got  was  a  plump,  round,  stocky  horse.  Man- 
dell gave  us  enough  rope  to  make  hacka- 
mores,  and  with  a  blanket  a  piece  we  had 
carried  for  our  bedding,  we  started  to  go 
home.  Dike's  swayback  horse  was  all  right 
to  ride.  When  I  got  on  mine  I  got  off  much 
quicker.  He  threw  me  ten  feet  in  the  air, 
a  fright  of  a  bucker.  But  we  didn't  mind  a 
particle.  He  bucked  me  off  at  least  ten  times! 
until  finally  I  remembered  how  the  negro 
boys  in  Kentucky  used  to  break  thorough- 
bred colts.  They  used  what  they  called  a| 
jockey  strap,  a  surcingle  around  the  horse'sjj 
body,  loose  enough  so  that  one  could  get  hisj| 
knees  under  it.  I  fixed  up  a  rope  to  take 
the  place  of  this  surcingle  and  succeeded  in 
getting  my  knees  under  it  before  I  was 
thrown;  then  I  rode  my  horse.  He  could  not 
throw  me.  We  finally  got  home — back  to 
our    wagon. 


25 


The  next  morning,  bright  and  early,  we 
thought  we  would  enjoy  a  wagon  ride,  so 
we  fixed  up  our  wagon  and  harnessed  our 
horses.  It  took  us  ten  days  of  steady  work 
to  break  the  other  horse  to  pull  that  wagon. 
But  time  was  no  object  in  those  days. 

We  then  set  to  work  to  build  us  a  cabin, 
which  we  did  by  digging  trenches  the  shape 
we  wanted  the  cabin  and  set  in  the  trench 
green  cottonwoods  upright,  binding  the  top 
with  a  flat  log  stringer  with  pin  holes  bored 
through  and  pins  driven  into  the  upright 
logs.  Covered  with  a  heavy  dirt  roof  we 
considered  ourselves  safe  against  being  burn- 
ed out  either  by  outlaws  or  Indians. 

The  question  then  was,  What  shall  we  do 
for  an  occupation?  I  wanted  to  prospect 
but  Dike  had  an  uncle  who  had  made  a  for- 
tune as  a  wool  commission  man,  and  he  said 
we  should  go  into  the  sheep  business  as  a 
source  of  revenue.  I  finally  agreed  and  the 
question  came  up  which  should  go  and  get 
the  sheep.  He  said  that  I  came  from  the 
country  (he  thought  Kentucky  was  all  coun- 
try), and  that  I  should  go.  I  objected  say- 
ing that  his  woolly  uncle  should  have  taught 
him  something  about  what  he  made  his  for- 
tune in.  All  I  knew  about  was  race  horses 
and  blooded  stock.  So  we  finally  drew  straws 
to*,  that  and  it  fell  to  me  to  go.  He  stayed 
at  the  ranch  and  built  corrals.  I  drove  the 
sheep  back  on  foot.  I  hired  a  friend  of  mine, 
Wallace  Green,  to  drive  for  me  and  do  the 
cooking.  I  drove  the  sheep  on  foot.  Two 
donkeys  I  had  left  in  Colorado  I  also  took 
along,  as  they  were  some  help  in  crossing 
streams.  I  put  a  great  many  bells  on  my 
sheep  so  that  I  would  not  lose  them  in  the 
night.  Several  nights  in  wind  storms  they 
drifted  but  I  never  let  any  get  away.  They 
fell  into  gulches  and  ran  into  sagebrush,  but 
we  got  them  back  in  the  morning.  I  bought 
sheep  in  Southern  Wyoming  and  we  started 
the  first  sheep  business  in  Northern  Wyo- 
ming. 

When  I  reached  Powder  River  Crossing 
I  found  that  Mr.  Morton  Fruen  had  estab- 
lished a  big  cattle  ranch  there  and  had  15 
or  20  cowboys  in  his  employ — a  big  English 
outfit.  The  foreman  with  a  bunch  of  cow- 
boys met  me  and  told  me  that  I  would  not 
be  allowed  to  cross — that  that  was  a  cattle 
country.  I  told  the  foreman  I  had  been  in 
the  country  before  Mr.  Fruen  and  that  I 
proposed  to  go  on  to  my  own  ranch  and 
home,  which  was  on  Big  Goose  Creek.  I 
lad  a  talk  with  Wallace  Green  and  told  him 
to  take  the  best  horse  and  strike  the  back 
track  and  leave  the  wagon  if  anything  hap- 
pened, but  to  be  sure  to  get  away  and  go 
south.  I  took  the  sheep  with  the  donkeys 
and  drove  them  to  the  river,  and  after^quite 
a  siege  I  got  the  donkeys  and  part  of  the 
sheep  across;  but  the  bunch  split  on  me. 
The  cowboys  were  standing  on  their  horses 
on  the  opposite  bank.  I  had  taken  a  double- 
barreled  shotgun  with  me,  which  was  rather 
in  my  way  driving  the  sheep,  and  I  deter- 
mined that  the  sheep  should  cross  the  river. 
When  it  came  to  coming  back  from  the  other 
■art  of  the  bunch  I  experienced  the  delights 
of  a  fertile  imagination  as  I  turned  and 
walked  back   across   the  river.      I    saw   that    1 


was  an  easy  target.  I  could  almost  feel  the 
bullets  going  through  me,  but  I  determined 
not  to  show  this  crowd  that  I  was  afraid  of 
them.  When  I  was  safely  on  the  west  side, 
the  foreman  reluctantly  came  down  from 
the  bank  and  told  me  that  Mr.  Fruen  had 
concluded  that  as  I  was  there  in  the  country 
before    his    time    I    might    go    through.      But 

he    said    no    other    d sheep    man    would 

ever  cross  that  river.  We  got  back  to  the 
ranch  without  further  incidents.  At  the  end 
of  eight  years  of  sheep  business  I  finally 
closed  out,  at  a  profit  of  some  $35,000.  Sev- 
eral big  sheep  men  of  Sheridan  County  got 
their  start  from  that  bunch.  I  concluded  if 
I  stayed  at  it  any  longer  I  could  speak  the 
sheep  language  better  than  I  could  the  Eng- 
lish. I  knew  half  my  sheep  by  names.  When 
I  called  them  they  would  come  to  me. 

I  built  the  first  flour  mill  in  Wyoming 
on  that  ranch — ran  it  by  water  power.  It 
still  stands  and  is  called  Beckton  mill.  Archi- 
bald Forbes,  former  Governor-General  of  the 
Philippines,  after  I  met  some  reverses,  bought 
it  from  a  bank. 

I  also  built  a  flour  mill  and  put  in  an 
electric  light  plant  and  water  works  in  the 
town  of  Buffalo.  The  railroad  at  that  time 
had  maps  and  blue  prints  and  a  right  of  way 
bought  to  the  town,  and  then  when  they 
turned  north  to  Sheridan  instead  of  coming 
to   Buffalo,   I   dropped  a  lot  of  money. 

I  had  irrigation  license  No.  1  out  of  Big 
Goose  Creek.  It  is  recorded  as  for  farming 
400  acres  ten  miles  west  of  Sheridan  on  Big 
Goose  Creek. 

Eleven  years  were  yet  to  intervene  before 
I  reached  Cody,  during  which  time  I  ran  for 
Congress,  and  then  for  the  Senate  when  there 
was  a  blocked  legislature  and  no  senator 
elected. 

Then  I  organized  the  Sheridan  Fuel  Co. 
and  operated  it  for  two  years,  until  I  lost  it. 

Later  under  a  patent  of  my  own  I  took 
the  slacks  of  the  Sheridan  Fuel  Company 
and  worked  the  lignites  into  anthracite 
equivalents  (the  same  process  Ford  is  now 
making  millions  on),  saving  all  the  by-pro- 
ducts of  low  grade  coals  and  using  the  fixed 
carbon  for  fuels.  My  final  conclusion  was 
that  the  proper  way  to  use  this  western  coal 
was  to  distil  off  all  the  volatile  by-products 
which  are  very  valuable,  to  grind  up  the 
fixed  carbon  residue,  and  with  an  air  blast 
to  burn  it  as  you  would  an  oil  under  your 
boilers.  This  will  be  done  in  all  large  plants 
in    time. 

James  Bros. 

The  James  Bros,  lived  on  Goose  Creek 
where  the  town  of  Big  Horn  now  is.  They 
were  the  first  locators  on  Little  Goose  Creek 
near  the  road  crossing.  There  were  nine  of 
them  and  a  negro.  They  had  disappeared 
from  Missouri  for  two  years;  they  were  on 
Goose  Creek,  eleven  miles  south  of  me.  The 
way  I  first  happened  to  meet  them,  I  was 
going  from  my  ranch  to  Fort  McKinney, 
and  I  took  a  pack  horse  to  bring  back  sup- 
plies. At  the  head  of  Prairie  Dog  Creek  in 
an  aspen  thicket  lived  an  old  Kentuckian 
named  Elisha  Terrill,  there  he  had  built  a 
cabin.  As  he  was  a  fellow  Kentuckian  I  al- 
ways  stopped  with  him.      I   had  killed  a  deer 


26 


in  the  thicket  and  took  it  to  his  house.  While 
we  were  getting  supper  we  heard  somebody 
call  at  the  door.  Old  Man  Terrill  went  out 
and  eight  men  came  back  into  the  house 
with  him,  which  looked  like  a  big  mob  in 
the  country  in  those  days;  and  it  was.  I 
simply  put  on  some  more  meat  in  the  frying 
pans,  cooked  supper  for  the  crowd,  and  we 
sat  around  and  talked  for  a  while.  Finally 
one  of  the  men,  Frank  James,  said  to  me, 
"Young  man,  make  your  bed  down  over 
there,"  pointing  to  the  corner  furtherest  from 
the  door.  I  asked  him  what  business  it  was 
of  his.  Old  Elisha  Terrill  said,  "George 
make  your  bed  over  there."  I  didn't  say  any- 
thing more;  I  just  took  my  blankets  and 
threw  them  in  the  corner  and  lay  down;  but 
sort  of  kept  my  eyes  a  little  open  so  I  could 
see  what  was  going  on  after  these  orders. 
After  everybody  had  distributed  themselves 
around,  the  last  two  men  before  they  lay 
down  shut  the  door,  put  their  feet  against 
it,  cocked  their  rifles  and  laid  them  one  on 
each  side.  Anybody  touching  the  door  would 
never  have  heard  a  sound;  would  have  been 
shot  dead.  In  the  morning  they  said  "You 
stay  here  for  a  quarter  of  an  hour  after  we 
leave."  I  did.  After  they  had  gone  old 
Elisha  told  me  who  they  were,  and  warned 
me  not  to  know  them  except  by  their  first 
names,  Jack  and  John,  or  whatever  they 
happened  to  call  each  other.  They  frequent- 
ly came  past  my  place  after  that  but  never 
bothered  me  or  troubled  any  of  my  stock. 
To  protect  themselves  from  trouble  they 
laid  a  trap  for  Frank  Grouard,  a  scout  at  Ft. 
McKinney,  and  a  very  able  one.  On  Lake 
Desmet,  which  is  about  twelve  miles  out  from 
Ft.  McKinney,  there  is  a  little  stream  comes 
in  from  the  west  and  makes  a  point  in  the 
lake  where  there  are  some  box  elder  trees 
and  other  brush,  bushy  trees.  The  James 
Bros,  got  a  man  to  report  to  Fort  McKinney 
that  they  were  camped  on  this  point  by  Lake 
Desmet.'  They  put  up  some  shelter  tents 
there  that  could  be  seen  from  the  southwest 
and  the  place  could  lie  easily  taken  by  sur- 
prise down  this  bushy  creek.  Frank  Grouard 
and  a  lieutenant  and  about  20  soldiers,  imme- 
diately left  Fort  McKinney  to  take  this  camp. 
They  came  over  the  ridge  and  from  a  dis- 
tance saw  these  shelter  tents  and  dropped 
into  this  creek  valley,  and  coming  down  it 
they  were  ambushed  by  the  James  Brothers, 
ten  of  them  then  being  in  the  Tames  party. 
They  were  held  up  and  not  a  shot  was  fired, 
though  they  were  two  to  one.  Frank  Grou- 
ard and  the  force  were  notified  that  they  had 
set  this  trap  on  purpose  so  that  they  could 
have  a  talk.  They  said  they  were  doing  no 
harm  in  Wyoming  and  wished  to  be  let  alone, 
and  notified  Frank  and  any  of  the  men  in  the 
party  that  if  they  ever  came  out  again  to 
scout  or  look  for  them  that  they  would  be 
killed.  Frank  Grouard  never  went  after 
them  nor  do  I  know  of  any  expedition  that 
was  sent  out  to  take  them. 

A  query?  "But  when  did  you  come  to 
Cody?" 

"There  wasn't  any  Cody.  We  came  out 
to  survey  and  get  Cody  started.  There  was 
an  old  fellow,  Laban  Hillsberry,  a  great 
walker,    and    he    had    tramped    all    over    this 


country;  had  seen  Cedar  Mountain  and  been 
up  the  river.  He  was  convinced  that  the 
river  could  be  taken  around  that  mountain, 
and  if  it  could  one  could  irrigate  an  enormous 
tract  of  country.  Old  Laban  told  me  about 
this.  Jerry  Ryan,  an  old  stone  mason,  uncle 
of  Mrs.  DeMaris,  now  owner  of  DeMaris 
Springs,  had  been  over  it  with  Hillsberry, 
and  told  me  that  he  thought  it  could  be  done. 
So  I  concluded  to  make  a  survey  and  took 
Mr.  Alger  in  with  me  as  a  partner.  Then 
I  hired  Mr.  Elwood  Meade  and  party  to  come 
over  and  run  some  lines  and  make  a  survey 
of  the  Stinking  Water,  as  we  called  the  Sho- 
shone River  then.  In  this  party  of  eighteen 
there  were  six  guests,  among  them  my 
friend,  W.  Hinkle  Smith,  Horton  Boal,  Col- 
onel Cody's  son-in-law,  John  Patrick,  Captain 
George  Stockwell  and  Andrew  Stockwell. 
"Andy"  Stockwell  had  lived  with  me  for 
years  at  Beckton.  The  father  of  the  Stock- 
wells,  Colonel  Stockwell,  was  the  man  who 
led  "The  Charge  of  the  Light  Brigade"  of 
600  at  Balaklava;  their  grandfather,  their 
mother's  father,  was  George  Grote,  the  most 
celebrated  of  the  Greek  historians.  Many 
Englishmen  came  here  at  that  time.  Eng- 
lishmen follow  each  other.  The  Stockwells 
bought  a  part  interest  in  my  ranch.  Captain 
Stockwell  raised   polo   ponies    (and   "Ned). 

We  came  across  the  mountains  and  struck 
the  Big  Horn  River  a  little  below  the  place 
where  the  town  of  Basin  now  is.  Found  the 
river  was  so  high  we  could  not  cross  it  but 
would  have  to  go  down  the  east  side  to 
where  Lovell  had  a  ferry  near  the  big  can- 
yon. As  we  camped  in  a  bunch  of  timber 
the  idea  struck  us  to  have  a  race  down  the 
river  on  rafts.  So  we  made  a  pool  in  the 
evening,  and  at  7  o'clock  in  the  morning  the 
race  was  to  start,  and  the  two  men  who  got 
under  the  rope  at  Lovell  ferry  first  were  to 
win  the  pool.  At  7  o'clock  in  the  morning 
Mr.  Hinkle  Smith  and  I  were  the  only  ones 
that  had  our  raft  ready  and  in  the  water. 
As  we  pushed  off.  Captain  Stockwell,  not  to 
be  left,  ran  and  jumped  into  the  water,  swam 
to  our  raft  and  went  with  us.  The  other 
three  rafts  never  got  off.  So  we  made  a 
journey  down  the  river  through  Sheep  Can- 
yon and  after  several  adventures  and  a  good 
many  wrecks  we  reached  the  Lovell  Ferry 
on  our  second  raft  at  10  o'clock  the  next 
morning,  where  we  found  Horton  Boal  wait- 
ing with  our  horses  and  refreshments.  The 
wagons  had  all  crossed  safely.  We  went  to 
Otto  on  the  Greybull  River  and  then  We  si 
through  the  Oregon  Basin  country,  and  fin- 
ally landed  on  Sage  Creek.  We  camped 
about  three  miles  below  Frost  ranch.  From 
there  we  started  running  lines.  We  ran  a 
line  through  the  gap  west  of  Cedar  Moun- 
tain and  around  the  Oregon  Basin  to  the 
Meeteetse  Rim.  Then  we  moved  to  what 
was  known  as  Buffalo  Meadows  on  the  Sho* 
shone  above  Cedar  Mountain  on  the  river 
and  from  there  we  ran  lines  from  the  present 
headgate  of  the  Shoshone  Canal  and  also  to 
headgates  high  up  the  river.  We  then  made 
a  survey  of  the  north  side  of  the  river,  cover-1 
ing  what  was  then  known  as  the  Stinking 
Water  Desert,  which  is  now  Powell  Flat,] 
After   we    found   it    was   feasible   to   irrigate  a 


27 


very  large  tract  of  land  our  party  returned 
to  Sheridan,  going  by  way  of  Bonanza.  The 
preliminary  survey  had  been  made  and 
mapped.     That  was  about  27  years  ago. 

Then  at  Sheridan  we  proposed  to  organ- 
ize a  company  that  fall.  Colonel  Cody,  Mr. 
Alger  and  I  started  the  organization.  We 
elected  Colonel  Cody  president  of  what  we 
called  the  Shoshone  Irrigation  Co.,  the  Cody 
Canal.  We  took  in  some  gentlemen  from 
the  East:  Mr.  Nate  Salisbury,  Colonel  Cody's 
partner,  Mr.  Bronson  Rumsey,  Henry  Ger- 
rans,  and  George  Bleistein.  We  raised  some 
funds  to  start  operations,  and  I  took  an  out- 
fit ol"  wagons  and  scrapers  and  about  twenty 
men  and  teams  and  came  over  the  moun- 
tains and  started  work.  We  camped  near 
what  is  still  the  Marion  Williams  place.  We 
had  planned  to  take  in  the  whole  Oregon 
Basin  and  all  the  north  side  of  the  river. 
However,  not  enough  money  was  forthcom- 
ing. To  many  of  the  eastern  men  the  pro- 
ject was  sport,  and  I  was  left  to  complete 
the  work  as  best  I  might.  I  had  to  borrow 
money  from  Mrs.  Hearst  to  finish  the  canal. 
This  canal  now  furnishes  the  water  supply 
to  Cody  and  the  surrounding  country. 

Electric  light  plant.  When  we  finally 
made  up  our  town  site  company,  we  closed 
uu*».arrr  commissary  which  we  had  run,  sell- 
ing it  to  Mr.  Gerrans  and  Mr.  Bleistein; 
it  afterwards  became  the  Cody  Trading  Com- 
pany, of  which  ex-Senator  J.  M.  Schwoob  is 
now  president.  Colonel  Cody  proposed  to 
build  a  hotel,  which  he  finally  did,  and  look- 
ing around  for  something  to  do,  I  concluded 
that  I  would  develop  water  power  on  the 
river.  I  begged  a  lot  of  my  friends  to  help 
me  put  in  a  power  plant.  They  laughed  at 
the  enterprise  and  declined,  but  one  of  my 
■fed  friends  coming  to  my  assistance  helped 
me  to  float  some  bonds  and  I  mortgaged 
what  other  property  I  had  and  put  in  the 
electric  light  plant  on  the  river.  The  first 
year  it  didn't  seem  very  hopeful,  but  since 
then  it  has  carried  on  a  fair  business  and 
I  believe  has  given  unusually  good  service 
for  a  town  of  this  size. 

The   Gavel 

Now  I  was  shown  the  gavel  which  bore 
:late  1890.  11th  Legislature  Assembly  of 
Wyoming,  "Presented  to  President  George 
F.  Beck  by  members  of  the  Council."  "This 
ivas  our  last  territorial  Legislature,"  said  Mr. 
Seek.  "We  organized  as  a  State  right  after 
hat." 

Order  of  the  Cincinnatus 

"Col.  John  Thornton  was  Lt.-Col.  in  Gray- 
son's Regiment  in  Virginia  during  the  Revo- 
utionary  War.  As  his  descendant  I  hold 
nembership  in  the  Cincinnatus.  This  Society 
s  made  up  of  officers  of  the  Revolutionary 
Bar  and  only  one  representative  can  follow 
—must  be  the  oldest  son  of  the  most  direct 
lescendant,  the  whole  number  never  to  ex- 
eed  the  original  number. 

After  these  officers  had  formed  the  order 
>f  the  Cincinnati,  the  soldiers  and  others  be- 
ran  to  think  that  these  officers  were  rather 
rying  to  make  a  social  distinction,  and  Tam- 
nanv  Hall  was  organized  in  New  York  in 
>pposition  to  the  Order  of  the  Cincinnati, 
fed    from    a    social   order   they   finally   drifted 


into  a  political  machine  and  fell  into  the 
hands  of  the  Democratic  politicians  of  New 
York. 

The  order  took  its  name  from  Cincinnatus, 
who  was  called  by  the  Romans  to  suppress 
an  uprising  in  Rome  that  came  near  sweep- 
ing all  Italy.  Cincinnatus  was  called  from 
the  plow  to  save  the  Republic,  and  the  motto 
comes  down:  "Give  up  all  to  save  the  Re- 
public." With  the  date  "A.  D.  1783,"  this 
motto  in  Latin  is  inscribed  upon  the  badge 
now  held  by  Hon.  George  T.  Beck,  Cody, 
Wyoming. 

No  story  or  early  or  present  history  of 
Cody  is  complete  without  mention  of  its 
gracious  official  hostess,  Mrs.  George  T. 
Beck. 

At  fourteen  years  of  age  Mrs.  Beck,  then 
Miss  Daisy  Sorrenson,  came  to  make  her 
home  with  her  sister,  Mrs.  D.  A.  Tinkcom. 
Neither  of  the  girls  previous  to  their  west- 
ern venture,  had  seen  a  lumber  wagon  nor 
a  log  house,  which  for  a  time  were  to  be  their 
substitutes  for  carriages  and  mansions.  Here- 
tofore trips  from  the  city  to  ranches  had 
been   their  education   in   "roughing  it." 

While  there  were  no  riding  contests  in  the 
very  early  days,  the  young  lady  soon  won 
recognition  as  a  fine  horsewoman,  having 
acquired  her  "balance"  riding  the  western 
horse  "sidewise,"  with  only  blanket  and  sur- 
cingle. She  later  adopted  the  "astride"  fash- 
ion, however,  and  used  a  saddle. 

Mrs.  Beck  taught  the  first  school  in  the 
Cody  country,  known  as  the  Marquette 
school,  on  the  South  Pork  of  the  Shoshone 
River.  Later  she  took  a  business  college 
course  at  Helena,  Montana,  and  became  sec- 
retary to  the  Cody  Canal  Company.  Here 
our  west-country  romance  developed,  and, 
with  the  subject  of  our  story,  she  now  pre- 
sides as  mistress  of  Cody's  stone  mansion. 
Here  have  been  entertained  Secretaries  of 
State  Lane,  Daniels,  and  Garrison,  Gover- 
nor Carey,  Senator  Kendrick,  Mayor  Mitch- 
ell, of  New  York;  General  Wood,  Hon.  Ed. 
T.  Clark.  Mr.  A.  A.  Anderson,  artist,  and 
first  supervisor  of  the  oldest  forest  in  the 
United  States,  the  Shoshone;  L.  G.  Phelps, 
leading  millionaire  cattleman  of  the  Buffalo 
Bill  country,  now  deceased;  W.  R.  Coe,  New- 
York  philanthropist,  who  has  adopted  Wyo- 
ming as  his  official  residence,  casting  his  vote 
in  this  state. 

Indeed,  the  Beck  home  is  always  a  social 
center.  If  there  is  but  one  member  at  home 
the  lights  of  hospitality  are  shining. 

Mrs.  Beck  contributes  constantly  to  tin- 
musical  life  of  the  community,  and  is  a  lady 
of  high   spiritual  attainment. 

FINIS. 

Codv,   Wvo.,   Feb.  22,   1924. 


DIARY   OF   A.   B.   OSTRANDER 

Fly  Leaf.     S.  C.  Abbott  &  Company.     News 
Dealers  and  Stationers 
Farnham  Street,  Omaha,  Nebraska 
Entries: 

Capitol  Building,  Omaha,  Nebraska  Ter. 
October  1st,  1866.  Smiths  Ranch,  11  miles 
from  Omaha,  N.  T.  October  3rd,  1866. 

October  6th,  1866 — Passed  through  on  LJ 
P.    R.    R.      Columbus,    N.    T.      Shell    Creek, 


28 


Grand    Island    Station,    Silver    Creek,   Wood 
River  and  Kearney  Station. 

October  7th,  1866—  Crossed  Platte  River  in 
express  wagon.  Met  Captain  Freeman  and 
Lieut.  Arnold. 

October  11th,  1866 — In  camp  with  2nd  U. 
S.  Cavalry  at  Plum  Creek,  N.  T. 

October  14th,  1866 — Arrived  Fort  Mc- 
Pherson,   Cottonwood   Springs,   N.  T. 

October  15th,  1866— Saw  my  first  wild  In- 
dian of  the  plains. 

October  21st,  1866 — Arrived  Fort  Sedg- 
wick, Col.  Ter. 

1866— Went  over  to  Jules- 


-In    camp    at     Lodge 


October   22nd. 
burg,  C.  T. 

October    24th,    1866 
Pole  Creek   Crossing. 

October  25th,  1866 — Mud  Springs;  out  on 
the  prairie  looking  at  Court  House  Rock,  2 
p.  m.,  gazing  at  Chimney  Rock;  5  p.  m.  Here 
are  five  of  us  cooking  our  supper  in  camp 
at  the  foot  of  Chimney  Rock. 

October  26th,  1866 — 2  a.  m.  Just  relieved 
from   guard  at   Camp   Mitchell. 

October    27th,    1866 — Cold    Springs    ranch, 

22  miles   from   Fort   Laramie. 

October  29th,  1866— In  good  quarters  at 
Fort  Laramie. 

November  4th.  1866 — Peters  and  I  taking 
our  first  view  of  Laramie  Peak  and  the  Black 
Hills. 

On  the  march  from  Fort  Laramie,  camped 
as  follows: 

November  19th,  Big  Bitter  Cottonwood, 
D.  T.,  20  miles. 

November  20th,  Horse  Shoe  Creek,  18 
miles. 

November   21st,   Bridgers   Ferry,    16  miles. 

November  22nd,  camp  on  North  Platte 
River,  20  miles. 

November  23rd,  mouth  of  Sage  Creek,  14 
miles. 

November  24th,  Sage  Creek  camp,  18 
miles. 

November  25th,  Wind  River  camp,  forgot 
to  put  down  miles. 

November  26th,  Humphreys  camp,  24 
miles. 

November  27th,  Dry  Fork  of  Powder  river, 

23  miles,  stuck  in  big  storm. 

November  29th,  Thanksgiving  Day  and 
stuck  here  by  the  storm  but  had  a  chicken 
dinner. 

November  20th,  arrived  at  Fort  Reno  about 
2  p.  m. 

December  22nd,  Jack  Phillips  went 
through;  awful  big  fight  at  Phil  Kearny. 

January  10th,  sick  in  hospital  at  Fort  Reno, 
D.  T.,  of  mountain  fever. 

February  20th,  18o7 — Discharged  from  the 
United  States  Army. 

February  21st,  1867— Started  for  Fort  Phil 
Kearny  with  thermometer  20  degrees  below 
zero.      Camped  at  Crazy  Womans   Fork. 

February  22nd,  1867 — Clear  creek. 

February  23rd,  1867 — Fort  Phil  Kearny, 
D.  T.     Met  Jim  Bridger. 

February  24th — Got  a  job  as  clerk  in  Quar- 
termaster's office  under  Gen.  G.  B.  Dandy. 

March  24th — Hunting  up  Piney  creek;  got 
a  big  scare  from  one  of  the  Crow  Indians 
who  are  here  for  a  big  swap. 

April    22nd — Got    notice    that    I    must    go 


east  for  examination  for  a  commission  in  the 
Regular  Army. 

April  23rd — Left  Fort  Phil  Kearny  and 
camped  at  Buffalo  Wallows,  thirty-five  miles 
from  P.  K. 

April  24th — Arrived  at  Fort  Reno.  Had  a 
little  scrap  with  Indians  between  Clear  creek 
and  Crazy  Woman's  Fork. 

April  25th — Found  all  that  was  left  of  Van 
Valzah's  lost  mail. 

April  27th — Major  Van  Voast  lost  his  two 
horses  in  camp. 

May   1st — Arrived  at  Fort  Laramie. 

May  5th — At  Fort  Mitchell,  en  route  for 
Julesburg  and  passed  Chimney  Rock;  mid- 
night at  Mud  Springs. 

May  6th — Passed  Lodge  Pole  creek  and 
arrived  at  Fort  Sedgwick.  In  camp  of  30th 
U.  S.  Infantry. 

May   10th — Visited  Julesburg. 

May  14th — Arrived  at  North  Platte  City, 
Neb.  Ter. 

May   15th — Omaha,  Nebraska. 

Copied  by  Major  Ostrander  from  his  origi- 
nal diary.  The  little  memo  book  in  which 
the  entries  were  made  was  bought  in  Omaha 
just  before  the  Major  left  Omaha  for  the  In- 
dian  campaign. 


Handling  the  Mail  at  Fort  Reno,  D.  T.,  in 
1866  and  1867 

The  arrival,  overhauling  and  distribution  oi 
mail  at  Fort  Reno,  D.  i.,  in  those  days  was 
an  important  event.  It  was  anxiously  await- 
ed and  longingly  looked  for.  its  arrival  and 
"coming  in"  was  an  "episode."  The  day  and 
date  ot  its  arrival  was  an  "epoch,"  for  inci- 
dents and  circumstances  were  rememberet 
among  the  men  as  happenings  from  and  after 
that  point  of  time. 

The  following  "epitome"  will  give  an  ac< 
count  of  methods  used  in  handling  it.  \V( 
generally  had  trom  an  hour  and  a  half  I 
three  hours  notice  of  its  approach  and  arrival 
About  five  miles  by  the  trail  to  the  souti 
and  across  the  Powder  River  valley,  was  higl 
land,  which  at  its  western  extremity  ended  ■ 
a  sharp  point  and  a  bluff.  The  trail  iron 
Fort  Laramie  wound  around  this  point  anc 
watchful  eyes  were  scrutinizing  that  poini 
every  second  during  daylight,  hoping,  lung* 
nig  or  dreading  to  see  who  or  what  migh 
appear. 

After  turning  this  point  the  trail  descendet 
gradually  m  a  northeasterly  direction  unti 
it  struck  the  timber  in  the  river  bottom  laiu. 
and  then  turned  sharply  to  the  west  unti 
it  reached  a  point  between  the  fort  prope.j 
and   the   lower   corral. 

According  to  conditions  of  the  weather  am 
of  the  trail  itself,  the  time  made  between  th« 
point  of  first  observation  and  arrival  at  thi 
tort,  would  vary;  but  it  was  always  lonj! 
enough,  when  a  mail  party  had  been  sighted 
to  keep  everybody  on  the  anxious  jjeat  witl 
longing  anticipations. 

On  arrival  at  Post  headquarters  the  mail 
carrier  would  bring  in  his  bag  and  turn  ij 
over  to  the  Post  Adjutant,  Lieutenant  T.  I 
Kirtland.  The  only  key  to  this  bag  was  ii 
the  possession  of  the  Lieutenant  and  he  kep 
it  under  lock  and  key  in  a  drawer  of  hit 
table.     The  Lieutenant  would  unlock  the  pad 


29 


lock,  remove  it,  and  then  place  the  lock  and 
key  back  in  the  drawer.  All  this  carefulness 
did  seem  ridiculous  to  me  in  view  of  the  fact 
that,  as  two  headquarters  clerks  (Clarke  and 
myself)  did  all  of  the  separating,  sorting,  and 
some  of  the  final  distributing  of  the  mail 
matter. 

A  blanket  was  spread  out  on  the  floor, 
and  after  the  lock  and  key  had  been  pro- 
vided with  such  proper  protection,  the  bag 
was  taken  by  Clarke  who  withdrew  the 
leather  strap  from  between  its  metal  guards, 
and  then  turning  it  upside  down,  the  con- 
tents were  dumped  in  a  pile  on  the  blanket. 
The  bag  would  then  be  placed  so  that  its 
mouth  would  be  open  and  in  a  position  so 
that  we  could  throw  into  it  all  matter  des- 
tined  to  points  beyond   Fort   Reno. 

Then  Clarke  and  myself  began  our  duties. 
On  our  knees  and  opposite  each  other,  with 
the  pile  between,  with  both  hands  we  began 
operations.  Every  article  addressed  "Fort 
Reno"  was  thrown  off  in  a  pile  by  itself,  and 
each  one  for  points  above  was  thrown  back 
into  the  bag  at  once,  so  that  when  the  last 
piece  was  handled  the  separating  was  com- 
pleted. Clarke  would  restrap  it;  the  Lieu- 
tenant would  re-lock  it  and  the  mail  carrier 
_could  proceed  on  his  way.  All  this  before 
ouT^  own  mail  could  receive  any  attention. 

The  first  time  I  tackled  this  work  I  had 
only  been  at  the  post  less  than  one  week  and 
was  green  at  it  and  guess  I  was  inclined  to 
talk  too  much  in  the  way  of  criticism  of  the 
methods,  modus  operandi,  etc.,  and  it  is  a 
wonder  to  me  now  that  I  didn't  get  a  more 
serious  calling  down  than  was  given  me  in 
the  way  of  explanation  at  the  time. 

On  my  knees,  leaning  forward,  my  back 
twisting  from  side  to  side,  and  both  hands 
busy,  I  got  tired  and  straightening  up  for 
a  few  seconds  rest,  I  remarked  "This  is  a 
nice  thing  for  us  to  be  doing;  handling  every- 
body else's  private  letters."  Clarke  merely 
gave  a  grunt  and  said  "What's  the  matter 
wi'  you?"  "Well,"  I  said,  "this  mail  ought 
to  be  put  up  separate  at  Fort  Laramie.  They 
could  make  one  big  bundle  for  us  and  one  for 
each  post  above,  then  all  we'd  have  to  do 
would  be  to  take  out  our  own  bundle  and  let 
the  rest  go  on." 

Clarke  gave  another  grunt  and  said  "Shut 
up  and  go  to  work."  Lieutenant  Kirtland 
and  Van  Valzeh  (the  mail  carrier)  were  seat- 
ed near  by  watching  us.  The  Lieutenant  re- 
marked in  a  pleasant  tone  of  voice,  "That 
would  make  four  separate  bundles  to  leave 
Laramie  with;  one  for  Bridgers  Ferry  and 
one  for  each  of  us,  Reno,  Phil  Kearney  and 
C  F.  Smith,  and  as  they  would  vary  so  much 
in  bulk  and  weight  Van  Valzeh  would  find 
it  hard  work  to  balance  the  sack  on  the 
back  of  his  horse." 

I  kept  right  on  working  and  talking  too, 
lor  I  said  "They  could  put  'em  in  separate 
sacks  then;  one  sack  labelled  for  each  Post. 
There'd  be  no  delay  here  then,  only  long 
enough  to  put  our  own  "up-above"  mail  in 
its  proper  sack.  The  Lieutenant,  still  in  a 
peasant  mood,  said  "I  guess  Van  would  find 
some  trouble  handling  four  sacks  on  one 
fcorsc." 


I  still  thought  I  had  the  best  of  the  argu- 
ment when  I  said  "He  always  has  three  or 
four  soldiers  for  an  escort  and  I  guess  each 
one  of  them  could  carry  one  sack  to  help 
him  out." 

I  looked  up  at  Van  and  he  was  smiling, 
but  the  Lieutenant  continued  in  a  more  sober 
tone,  "The  mail  carrier  is  sworn  in  by  the 
government  and  is  responsible.  He  gets  ten 
dollars  a  day  for  it  while  on  the  trip  and 
no  one  else  is  allowed  to  handle  the  bags." 

Clarke  was  growing  impatient  and  let  out 
a  grunt,  so  I  subsided  but  was  not  convinced. 
Then,  as  now,  it  was  a  mooted  question  in 
my  mind,  if  a  soldier  could  not  carry  or 
handle  a  locked  bag  of  mail  while  en  route 
how  was  it  that  us  two  enlisted  men  were 
allowed  to  handle  every  individual  article  of 
its  contents.     I  give  it  up. 

Just  before  the  conversation  described 
above,  I  had  picked  up  two  letters  addressed 
to  myself  and  in  my  delight  I  exclaimed 
"Glory"  and  started  to  put  them  in  my 
pocket.  A  quick  exclamation  from  Clarke- 
caused  me  to  look  up.  He  said  "Throw  'em 
out"  and  nodded  in  direction  of  our  own  mail 
pile.  "But  they  are  for  me,"  I  said,  hand- 
ing them  to  him  so  that  he  could  read  the 
addresses.  He  took  them  and  without  even 
looking  at  the  address,  threw  them  in  the 
Reno  pile,  but  looking  me  straight  in  the 
eyes,  gave  a  wink  and  nodded  toward  the 
officer.  I  was  afraid  to  enter  into  any  dis- 
cussion with  him  in  presence  of  the  officer 
but  made  up  my  mind  to  have  it  out  with 
him  later,  but  before  the  mail  was  finally 
disposed  of  I  found  it  was  unnecessary  and 
that  Clarke  had  really  done  me  a  kindly  act. 
Having  disposed  of  the  mail  carrier,  our 
own  mail  was  all  placed  on  the  Adjutant's 
table.  We  put  it  there  addresses  up  and  the 
Lieutenant  himself  saw  to  its  distribution. 
Mail  for  officers  and  their  families  was  laid 
one  side  and  delivered  to  them  or  their  rep- 
resentatives at  once.  Mail  for  enlisted  men 
was  separated  by  companies  and  handed  to 
the  Orderly  Sargeants  who  were  always  on 
hand  and  waiting  for  it,  and  lastly  the  head- 
quarters mail  was  disposed  of  and  I  got 
mine. 

When  the  Lieutenant  handed  me  a  bunch 
of  six  letters  there  was  a  smile  on  his  face 
and  I  knew  he  must  have  got  onto  that  by- 
play  during  the   separating. 

Once  the  mail  arrived  in  the  night,  long 
after  taps,  and  the  procedure  differed  in  a 
slight  degree — the  blanket  was  spread  on  the 
dirt  floor  of  our  bunk  room  in  rear  of  the 
office.  Candles  were  lit  and  stuck  around 
in  niches  and  blankets  hung  before  the  win- 
dow. Upon  completion  of v  the  separation  by 
Posts  and  the  mail  carrier  had  received  his 
sack  and  departed,  our  mail  was,  as  usual, 
placed  on  the  Adjutant's  table,  blankets  be- 
ing hung  up  before  door  and  windows  and 
the  Lieutenant  did  his  "Little  Bit." 

If  there  were  any  officers  present  they 
could  of  course  get  their  mail  at  once,  no 
matter  what  hour  it  was,  but  the  enlisted  men 
had  to  wait  until  after  reveille  the  next  morn- 
ing. 

Generally  it  would  be  sent  over  to  com- 
pany quarters  at  "Breakfast  Call'  and  some- 


30 


times  some  poor  devil  would  become  so  in- 
terested on  his  news  from  home  or  else- 
where that  he  forgot,  and  neglected  to  put 
in  the  time  after  breakfast  in  brushing  up 
and  polishing  his  accoutrements  preparatory 
to  inspection  at  guard  mount,  with  the  result 
that  he  was  ordered  to  "Fall  out"  and  re- 
ceived a  reprimand  and  got  "police"  or  some 
other  unpleasant  duty,  instead  of  an  assign- 
ment as  "Orderly"  for  the  day,  to  Command- 
ing Officer  and  Post  Headquarters;  a  job 
eagerly  strove  for  by  every  soldier  coming  on 

(Signed)     A.  B.  OSTRANDER. 


From   Fort   Reno  to   Fort   Phil   Kearny 

The  next  morning  Curley  gave  me  a  good 
warm  breakfast  while  it  was  still  dark  and 
I  returned  to  the  office,  got  my  valise,  box 
of  grub  and  blankets  and  put  them  at  the 
gate  near  by,  to  await  for  my  transporta- 
tion. 

Very  soon  the  wagon  drove  up  and  a 
mounted  man  was  with  it.  I  learned  after- 
ward that  he  was  wagon-boss  for  the  outfit 
and  his  name  was  Stanton. 

He  asked  if  I  was  the  boy  that  was  going 
up  with  them  and  on  my  answer  "yes,  sir," 
he  said,  "All  right,  I  will  fix  you  up."  He 
dismounted,  untied  the  cord  which  held  the 
canvass  cover  at  front  of  the  wagon  and 
climbed  up  inside.  He  pulled  down  a  couple 
of  sacks  of  corn  and  filled  the  space  between 
them  with  empty  gunny  sacks,  thus  making 
a  good  seat.  I  handed  him  my  box  of  grub 
and  valise,  which  he  piled  up  in  back  and 
as  he  got  down  I  climbed  in.  He  then  hand- 
ed me  my  blankets  and  told  me  to  arrange 
them  to  suit  myself. 

He  had  fixed  my  seat  about  two  feet  or 
more  from  the  front  board  and  loose  hay 
was  packed  in  the  front  half  way  to  the  top 
of  the  box.  On  top  of  this  was  spread  a 
couple  of  gunny  sacks  and  he  explained,  that 
space  was  arranged  for  the  dog  and  he  rode 
off. 

In  a  few  minutes  the  Captain  rode  up,  the 
dog  jumping  and  barking  around  him.  The 
officer  himself  dismounted  and  giving  his  pup 
a  boost,  landed  him  at  my  feet.  Surveying 
the  arrangements  the  officer  remarked,  "I 
guess  you'll  both  be  as  comfortable  as  can 
be  expected,"  and  right  here  I  will  say,  al- 
though the  men  did  suffer  awfully  and  frost 
bites  and  freezing  were  numerous,  I  was  not 
even  cold  at  any  time  during  that  ride  to 
Phil  Kearny.  The  dog  was  more  protection 
than  hot  bricks  or  warming  pan  could  have 
been. 

By  referring  to  my  little  memorandum 
book   I   find  the  following  entry: 

"February  21st,  1867. 

"Started  for  Fort  Phil  Kearny  with  two 
companies  2nd  U.  S.  Cavalry.  Thermometer 
20  degrees  below   zero." 

After  we  got  out  on  the  prairie  and  away 
from  the  protection  of  the  stockade  the  wind 
was  awful  cold,  so  I  tied  the  canvass  cover 
down  in  front  to  a  ring,  and  pulled  the  cape 
of  my  overcoat  over  my  head.  My  hair  was 
unite-  long  and  came  down  over  my  ears  and 
neck,  so  with  all  of  this  protection  I  was  the 
luckiest    one    in    the    whole    outfit    so    far    as 


protection    against    the    elements    was    con- 
cerned. 

We  reached  Crazy  Woman  Forks  that 
night  and  a  place  for  camp  was  selected  well 
down  in  the  underbrush  and  near  a  bluff 
on  the  south  side  and  thus  received  some 
protection  from  the  cold  and  bitter  wind. 

I  remained  in  my  snuggery  until  camp  fires 
were  well  under  way  and  then,  providing 
myself  with  some  crackers  and  a  can  of 
chicken,  I  got  out  of  the  wagon,  but  was  so 
stiff  and  cramped  up  from  the  long  ride  in 
such  close  quarters,  with  a  dog  to  hold  me 
down,  that  I  had  to  jump  around  for  quite 
a  little  while  to  get  limbered  up  and  the 
cramps  out  of  my  legs. 

Finally  I  went  to  one  of  the  fires  and  put 
my  can  of  chicken  among  the  coals  to  warm 
it  up,  of  course  cutting  off  the  cover  first. 
Just  as  I  was  beginning  to  eat,  a  soldier  came 
over  to  me  and  said,  "The  Captain  wants  to 
know  if  you'd  like  a  cup  of  hot  coffee?"  I 
was  very  quick  to  answer,  "You  bet  I  would," 
and  he  turned  away,  but  in  a  very  few  min- 
utes returned  with  a  tin  cup  that  held  over 
a  pint  of  hot  coffee,  f  surely  did  enjoy  that 
supper  and  then  went  over  to  return  the  cup. 

As.  I  was  telling  the  soldier  to  thank  the 
Captain  for  me  a  voice  spoke  up  from  a  tent 
near  by.  "Come  in  here."  The  soldier  nod- 
ded his  head  towards  the  tent  saying,  "Go 
in,  he  wants  to  speak  to  you,"  so   I  entered. 

There  was  a  small  box  heating  stove,  a 
couple  of  empty  boxes,  one  of  which  was 
used  as  a  candle  stick  by  melting  enough 
grease  to  hold  the  candle  perpendicular,  and 
his  bedding  arranged  on  the  ground.  He  re- 
tained his  seat  on  the  other  box  and  I  stood 
by  the  warm  stove. 

"Captain  Proctor  told  me  that  you  had 
served  under  General  Phillip  St.  George 
Cooke,"  said  he.  "Yes,  sir;  I  was  with  him 
over  two  years,"  I  answered.  He  smiled  as 
he  continued,  "I  served  under  him  for  over 
eight  years  before  the  war  as  a  soldier  in  the 
2nd  Dragoons.  He  was  our  Colonel  and  it 
was  he  that  recommended  me  for  a  commis- 
sion." 

This  of  course  brought  forth  quite  a  con- 
versation dealing  with  the  idiosyncracies  ol 
the  old  General.  I  remember  in  particular 
he  asked  me  if  the  General  was  still  inter- 
ested in  trying  to  improve  upon  his  "Tac- 
tics." 

At  the  beginning  of  the  civil  war  "Cooke's 
Cavalry  Tactics"  was  the  standard  for  cav- 
alry, as  "Hardee's"  was  for  the  infantry,  li 
told  him  that  very  much  of  the  work  I  had 
done  for  the  General  was  copying  materia 
referring  to  tactics.  He  laughed  and  saic 
that  more  than  once  after  the  Colonel  hac 
drawn  up  a  plan  of  formation  or  evolution 
they  would  go  out  and  put  it  into  practice 
and  sometimes  there  would  be  an  awful  mb 
up. 

The  Colonel  would  grunt  and  swear,  dis 
miss  the  drill  and  go  back  and  work  it  al 
over  again  until  he  succeeded  in  making  i| 
nearer  perfect. 

He  concluded  the  interview  by  sayin| 
"Proctor  showed  me  a  letter  he  had  fron! 
General   Cooke  in  which   he  gave  you  a  lim 


31 


character  and  if  there  is  anything  I  can  do 
ior  you  up  here  I  will  be  glad  to  do  it." 

I  thanked  him,  bid  him  good  night,  and 
returned  to  my  wagon.  When  I  got  there 
[  saw  Stanton,  the  wagon-boss,  standing  near 
tnd  I  asked  him  what  the  Captain's  name  was 
is  I  had  not  even  heard  that  yet.  He  re- 
plied, "Why,  that's  old  Captain  Patrick;  he 
tias  been  in  the  army  over  forty  years,  come 
up  from  a  private  soldier  and  I  guess  he  must 
je  sixty  years  old  or  older."  My  curiosity 
■as  satisfied  and  I  went  to  bed. 

1  had  a  good  night's  sleep  and  was  quite 
romfortable,  but  I  did  miss  the  dog;  he  had 
■emained   in   the  tent  with   his  master. 

We  made  camp  the  next  night  at  Clear 
Creek  and  the  Captain  again  sent  me  a  big 
:up  full  of  steaming  hot  coffee.  Nothing 
further  of  interest  occurred  here. 

We  got  an  early  start  the  next  morning 
Hid  some  time  in  the  afternoon  we  passed 
ilong  by  Lake  DeSmet,  crossed  Piney  Crook 
ind  coming  around  the  point  at  base  of  Pilot 
Hill,   Fort   Phil   Kearny  was  right  before  us. 

The  approaches  were  far  different  from 
those  at  Reno.  There,  our  first  view  of  the 
fort  had  been  from  a  high  elevation  and  its 
whole  interior  and  surroundings  were  visible 
it  a  glance,  but  here,  we  were  in  a  sort  of 
l>oTr&m  or  low  land,  and  the  fort  was  on  a 
high  plateau  and  only  the  stockade  and  roofs 
af  a  few  of  the  buildings  could  be  seen.  The 
flag  on  its  high  staff  flew  out  glorious  and 
it  was  a  welcome  sight. 

Our  appearance  was  quickly  noticed  and 
men  appeared  at  different  gates  giving  us  a 
welcome  similar  to  the  one  we  had  received 
dii  recalling  Reno.  Winding  our  way  up  the 
hill  the  wagon  I  was  in  went  in  at  the  water 
i?ate  and  passing  by  a  sort  of  corrall  with 
hay  stacks  and  forage  piled  up,  we  drove 
up  to  a  very  long  and  narrow  building  ex- 
tending north  and  south  and  stopped  at  the 
door  about  middle  of  the  south  side. 

The  teamster  got  down  and  commenced 
to  unload  things  from  back  part  of  the  wa- 
tpii.  The  wagon-boss  rode  up  and  told  me 
f  could  put  my  things  in  these  for  the  pres- 
ent. 

I  went  inside  and  found  a  large  room  with 
^ix  or  eight  bunks  built  up;  a  big  heating 
>tove  and  some  feed  boxes. 

He  informed  me  the  room  was  used  by 
wagon-bosses  only,  but  would  fix  it  so  that 
[  could  bunk  in  there  until  I  could  get  locat- 
ed. Told  me  to  put  my  traps  in  one  of  the 
Empty  feed  boxes  and  then  rode  off. 

And  so  1  had  arrived  at  Fort  Phil  Kearny. 


My  First  Day  at  Fort  Phil  Kearny 
I  had  secured  a  lodging  place  and  having 
several  hours  to  spare  before  bedtime  I  con- 
cluded to  do  as  I  had  done  on  all  previous 
occasions  where  I  first  arrived  at  a  new  Post 
— go  on  a  prospecting  tour  and  get  the  lay 
:>\   the  land,  location   of  buildings,   etc. 

About  one  hundred  feet  to  the  west  of 
the  building  in  which  I  was  located,  another 
stockade  extended  across  from  the  north  to 
the  south  with  an  open  space  of  about  fifteen 
feet  not  far  from  the  south  end.  About  the 
center  of  this  stockade  was  a  two  story 
building,  one-half  of   which   was   built    up   on 


each  side  of  the  stockade,  with  a  cupola  or 
observatory  on  top. 

Passing  through  the  open  space,  or  gate- 
way, I  found  myself  in  the  Fort  proper. 
Along  the  south  side,  and  at  my  left,  was  a 
long  row  of  buildings,  one  of  which  I  quickly 
discovered  was  the  sutler's  store,  and  beyond 
it  was  a  row  of  stables. 

Ahead  of  me,  and  not  far  from  the  center, 
was  the  Commanding  Officer's  house.  Dis- 
tributed around  on  three  sides  were  barracks, 
and  of  course  a  flag  pole  in  the  center  of 
the  parade  ground.  Over  on  the  north  side, 
and  close  up  to  the  stockade  were  several 
buildings  used  as  officers'  quarters  and  of- 
fices. 

There  was  a  gate  on  the  north  side,  just 
to  the  left  of  which  was  a  building  which  1 
soon  learned  was  the  district  quartermaster's 
headquarters. 

Of  course  I  naturally  drifted  into  the  sut- 
ler's store  the  first  thing,  and  the  men  I  met 
there  and  the  acquaintances  I  there  formed 
will  be  left  for  another  chapter. 

Along  after  dark  I  returned  to  my  bunk 
room  and  sat  up  until  quite  late  listening  to 
the  conversation  of  those  wagon  bosses  and 
packers,  and  right  there  and  then  I  formed 
opinions  which  I  have  never  had  occasion 
to  change.  One  was  that  they  and  their 
subordinates  had  not  been  fully  appreciated, 
nor  had  public  sentiment  ever  been  ex- 
pressed as  to  the  dangerous  nature  of  their 
services. 

The  military,  both  officers  and  men,  per- 
formed deeds  of  valor  and  courage,  and  en- 
dured all  manner  of  privations  and  suffer- 
ings, and  they  have  received  honor,  both  in 
song  and  story  and  many  by  personal  men- 
tion. 

The  old-time  scouts,  guides,  trappers,  and 
mountain  men  made  history,  and  writers  have 
sought  them  out  to  preserve  a  record  of  their 
wonderful  deeds  and  achievements,  both  as 
individuals  and  as  a  class;  but  who  ever  read 
of  the  work  performed  in  those  days  by 
wagon  bosses,  teamsters  and  packers?  I 
never  have,  and  yet  more  than  often  they 
endured  all  that  others  did  in  addition  to 
their   regular   duties. 

In  published  accounts  of  depredations,  or 
in  Indian  attacks,  there  has  been  sometimes 
occasional  mention  "a  teamster  was  killed," 
but  never  have  I  seen  either  eulogy  or  public 
expression  of  credit  to  their  service. 

On  the  trail  when  there  were  indications 
of  an  actual  attack  or  a  genuine  battle  with 
Indians,  the  packers  and  teamsters,  were  the 
ones  to  make  the  corral  and  keep  control  of 
their  stock.  Under  undue  excitement  one 
or  two  mules  might  stampede  a  whole  out- 
fit, and  a  stampede  under  such  conditions 
was  fully  as  disastrous  as  a  successful  charge 
of  wild  Indians. 

A  Sunday  school  teacher  in  a  den  of  wild 
animals,  in  an  endeavor  to  subdue  or  pacify 
them,  would  not  meet  with  more  danger  or 
be  placed  in  a  more  critical  condition  requir- 
ing a  cool  head  and  a  steady  hand.  He 
would  be  about  as  successful  as  a  weakling 
or  an  inexperienced  person.  These  packers, 
teamsters  and   wagon  bosses  may   have  been 


32 


considered  as  tough  characters.  They  had 
to  be,  for  theirs  was  a  tough  job. 

Many  of  them  were  hard  drinkers,  hard 
swearers  and  addicted  to  all  the  vices,  but 
in  their  particular  line  they  were  a  necessity 
and  most  valuable  men — I  might  better  say 
absolutely  indispensible.  In  cases  of  neces- 
sity they  always  proved  their  efficiency  and 
worth. 

It  was  with  such  a  body  of  men  that  I 
spent  my  first  evening  at  Fort  Phil  Kearny. 

Stanton,  as  the  latest  wagon  boss  arrival, 
occupied  the  center  of  interest,  and  was  kept 
quite  busy  answering  questions  from  those 
who  were  liable  to  accompany  the  next  out- 
fit going  down  the  trail  over  which  we  had 
just  arrived. 

His  descriptions  of  the  difficulties  encoun- 
tered were  not  only  interesting  to  me,  but 
seemed  to  impress  his  co-laborers  as  they 
might  benefit  from  his  information. 

There  were  several  men  at  the  store  that 
evening  who  had  been  in  charge  of  wood 
trains  and  other  work  in  the  vicinity  of  the 
fort  and  their  stories  were  both  thrilling  and 
exciting. 

And  yet,  no  public  expression,  giving  them 
credit  for  their  great  and  arduous  work,  has 
ever  been  made,  to  my  knowledge.  And  so 
ended  my  first  day  at  Fort  Phil  Kearny. 


The  above  military  history  was  taken  from 
the  original  manuscript  of  Major  Ostrander 
and  is  owned  by  the  Wyoming  Historical  De- 
partment. 


Headquarters,  Fort  Reno,  D.  T. 
August  9th,   1867. 
Bvt.  .Major  H.  B.  Freeman,  U.  S.  A., 

Captain  B,  7th  Infantry, 
Commanding  Escort. 
Major : 

Having  been  officially  informed  by  Mr. 
Litchfield,  Wells  Fargo  and  Company's  agent 
that  there  are  on  the  road  between  this  post 
and  La  Prele,  eleven  (11)  ox  trains,  enroute 
for  Fort  Philip  Kearney  and  Fort  C.  F. 
Smith;  eight  (8)  of  these  trains  being  under 
one  escort  of  30  men  from  La  Prele  and  the 
advance  of  these  trains  being  expected  to 
arrive  tomorrow;  you  will  remain  at  this 
post  till  the  advance  train  arrives,  when  you 
will  proceed  with  the  train  now  here  in  such 
manner  that  you  will  afford  partial  protection 
to  the  trains  following  in  your  rear.  Two 
trains  as  an  advance.  Can  leave  this  post 
together,  under  your  own  personal  charge — 
with  the  beef  cattle  belonging  to  Govern- 
ment and  it  is  requested  that  you  leave,  say 
IS  men — to  follow  you  with  the  next  train. 
Escorts  of  ten  men  from  this  post  will  be 
given  to  each  train  that  follows  after  and 
these  trains  will  be  hurried  up,  so  that  there 
will  not  be  a  greater  distance  between  trains, 
than  is  necessary  to  obtain  water. 

It  is  believed  that  you  might  with  pro- 
priety, let  these  trains  close  to  a  shorter  dis- 
tance after  you  reach  Crazy  Woman — or 
plenty  of  water.  You  will  use  your  discre- 
tion, however,  in  the  matter,  doing  what  you 
think   is  best. 

It  being  impossible  on  account  of  the  want 
of  water  between  this  and   Crazy  Woman — 


to  send  these  trains  together  and  it  bein 
impossible  to  furnish  large  escorts  to  eac 
from  this  point,  the  undersigned  assumes  tn 
responsibility  of  holding  you  here,  in  ordf 
to  carry  out,  what  he  decides  the  best  maniu 
of  getting  these  trains  to  Fort  Philip  Keai 
ney. 

I  am  Major.     Very  respectfully, 

Your  obedient  servant, 

J.  VAN  VOAST. 
Major  18th  Infantry, 
Comdv   Post. 


HISTORICAL  SKETCH 
St.    Mary's    Cathedral,    Cheyenne,    Wyomin 

The  history  of  the  Church  in  Cheyenne  i 
its  early  years  is  practically  a  history  of  th 
diocese;  for  after  Fort  Laramie  it  is  one  i 
the  oldest  settlements  in  the  state.  With  th 
building  of  the  Union  Pacific  Railroad  in  tli 
fall  of  1867,  there  was  a  great  influx  of  se 
tiers,  and  Cheyenne  grew  up,  so  to  speal 
over  night.  The  Rev.  Wm.  Kelly  was  sei 
by  Bishop  O'Gorman  of  Omaha,  to  who* 
jurisdiction  this  territory  belonged,  to  orgai 
ize  the  Catholics  and  build  up  a  parish.  A 
has  been  noted  in  the  general  history  of  th 
diocese,  his  territory  extended  from  Sidney 
Nebraska,  to  Wasatch  Canon,  Utah,  and  t 
the  north  as  far  as  Ft.  Laramie.  There  wer 
no  settlements  north  of  Ft.  Laramie. 

Fr.  Kelly  set  to  work  with  characteristi 
energy  and  in  1868  was  able  to  dedicate 
frame  church  (under  the  patronage  of  S 
John  Baptist)  at  21st  and  O'Neil  Streets,  o 
the  northwest  corner,  on  four  lots  donate 
by  the  Union  Pacific  Railroad  Company.  . 
few  rooms  attached  to  the  church  served  a 
the  parochial  residence,  and  the  entire  coi 
of  the  building  was  $4000.00.  Most  of  th 
congregation  came  from  Camp  Carlin,  a  gm 
ernment  supply  station  situated  half  way  b( 
tween  the  present  Cheyenne  and  Fort  Ru< 
sell.  Fr.  Kelly  remained  in  charge  lint 
October  9th,  1869.  After  leaving  Cheyenn 
he  did  general  missionary  work  in  Nebrask 
and  in  the  early  '80-s  retired  to  St.  Phik 
mena's  Cathedral,  Omaha,  to  pass  his  declii 
ing  years.  His  death  occurred  in  Novembe 
1907,  within  a  month  of  the  selling  and  m 
molition  of  the  cathedral  which  was  crowde 
out  to  make  room  for  the  rapidly  extendi! 
commercial  life  of  the  city. 

He  was  succeeded  by  the  Rev.  Phili 
Erlach  (from  October  9th,  1869,  to  Apr 
16th,  1871)  who  was  afterwards  pastor  of  a 
Irish  colony  at  St.  John's,  Nebraska,  ( n« 
Jackson)   and  there  passed  to  his  reward. 

Rev.  William  Byrne  took  charge  and  r< 
mained  until  September,  1873.  After  Bisho 
O'Gorman's  death,  he  acted  as  administrate 
of  the  Vicariate.  He  died  of  tuberculosi 
while  serving  as  pastor  at  North  Platte.  A 
the  present  time  (1918)  a  brother  Jam€ 
Byrne  resides  in  Omaha,  and  two  cousin: 
Mr.  Patrick  Fitzgerald  and  Mrs.  Ellen  Mui 
phy  reside  in  Cheyenne. 

Rev.  John  McGoldrick  was  then  appointe 
and  served  the  parish  until  October  18tl 
1877.  Considering  the  old  church  propert 
inadequate  to  the  needs  of  the  growing  cor 
gregatiou,  he  secured  two  lots  at  the  north 
east  corner  of  19th  and  Carey  Avenue,  as 


33 


site  for  the  new  church.  He  also  secured  a 
plot  of  ten  acres  to  be  used  as  a  Catholic 
cemetery. 

Through  the  good  offices  of  Mr.  Lawrence 
Bresnahan  this  ground  was  donated  by  the 
:ity.  Mr.  Bresnahan  as  Mayor  gave  a  bond 
April  28th,  1876,  to  the  church  authorities, 
pledging  the  transfer  of  the  property  as  soon 
is  the  city  could  secure  a  patent  from  Wash- 
ington. Feeling  that  this  plot  was  not  suf- 
ficiently large  for  burial  purposes  Messrs. 
Lawrence  Bresnahan  and  Tim  Dyer  later  on 
persuaded  the  city  through  Mr.  Heck  Reel 
as  Mayor  to  give  another  bond  (September 
25,  1885)  whereby  it  pledged  to  convey  ten 
acres  more  to  Rev.  F.  J.  Nugent  as  trustee. 

On  May  8th,  1888,  the  city  deeded  to  Rt. 
Rev.  Maurice  F.  Burke  18.32  acres  for  $45.80. 
Presumably  the  city  did  not  get  the  full  20 
acres  from  the  United  States  government. 
On  November  23rd,  1903,  Most  Rev.  John 
J.  Keane  and  Rt.  Rev.  Henry  Cosgrove,  as 
administrators  of  the  estate  of  Rt.  Rev. 
Thomas  Lenihan;  transferred  this  property 
to  the  Church  of  St.  Mary.  These  facts  were 
secured  from  the  records  of  the  Court  House. 
Father  McGoldrick  died  in  Cheyenne  of  tu- 
berculosis but  was  buried  in   Omaha. 

Rev.  John  Jennette  next  guided  the  des- 
tinies of  the  parish  from  December,  1877,  to 
August  4th,  1878.  He  laid  the  foundation  of 
the  brick  church  on  the  property  purchased 
by  Father  McGoldrick,  and  the  second  church 
like  the  first  was  dedicated  under  the  patron- 
age of  the  St.  John  the  Baptist.  The  families 
of  the  congregation  at  this  time  numbered 
from  50  to  75,  and  the  only  railroad  in  Chey- 
enne besides  the  Union  Pacific  was  a  spur 
to  Boulder  and  Denver  known  as  the  Colo- 
rado Central.  All  communication  with  the 
country  to  the  north  was  by  stage.  During 
lis  incumbency  at  Cheyenne  Father  Jennette 
erected  a  church  at  Sidney,  Nebraska,  but 
was  later  on  given  charge  of  the  newly  cre- 
ated parish  of  St.  Patrick,  Omaha,  which  he 
served  for  a  number  of  years,  beloved  by 
Hrery  one.  For  the  past  two  decades  he  has 
been  serving  as  Chaplain  at  St.  Joseph's  Hos- 
pital, Omaha,  and  has  been  Dean  of  the 
Omaha  Deanery.  He  passed  to  his  reward 
August  25th,  1918. 

Rev.  John  Hayes  succeeded  Fr.  Jennette  as 
pastor  and  governed  the  parish  up  to  Novem- 
ber 18th,  1882.  During  the  first  year  he  was 
assisted  by  Rev.  John  T.  Lee.  The  church 
begun  by  his  predecessor  was  brought  to 
completion  and  solemnly  dedicated  in  Mav, 
B79,  by  Very  Rev.  D.  I.  McDermott,  G.  G~., 
the  Bishop  at  the  time  being  present  at  the 
dedication  of  St.  Patrick's  Cathedral,  New 
York.  The  other  clergymen  in  attendance 
were  Revs.  Hugh  Cumminsky,  M.  F.  Cas- 
sidy,  Daniel  Hayes  and  the  pastor.  Father 
McDermott  preached  in  the  morning  on 
Faith  and  in  the  evening  on  the  Blessed 
Sacrament.  Father  Hayes  died  November 
18th,  1882,  and  was  buried  in  Cheyenne.  Dur- 
ing Fr.  Hayes'  pastorate  a  substantial  brick 
parochial  residence  was  built  adjoining  the 
church. 

Rev.  Francis  J.  Nugent  was  in  charge  from 
November  25th,  1882,  to  June  20th,  1886. 
He    started    a    parochial    school    which    was 


0 

temporarily  located  in  the  old  frame  church, 
and  placed  it  under  the  direction  of  the  Sis- 
ters of  the  Holy  Child  Jesus.  It  was  shortly 
moved  to  the  new  brick  building  erected 
for  that  purpose  at  the  rear  of  the  church. 
He  also  secured  the  splendid  school  property 
adjoining  the  state  Capitol  and  superintended 
the  construction  of  the  present  academy.  A 
man  of  boundless  energy  he  founded  and  con- 
ducted, with  the  help  of  Mr.  Joseph  McGill, 
(at  present  lives  near  Cody,  Wyoming)  a 
weekly  paper  known  as  the  Catholic  Mirror, 
which  however  was  foredoomed  to  failure 
owing  to  the  smallness  of  the  Catholic  popu- 
lation. After  leaving  Cheyenne  Father  Nu- 
gent served  as  pastor  at  Rawlins  for  a  year 
and  half,  but  was  again  brought  back  to 
Cheyenne  where  he  remained  from  January, 
1888,  to  March,  1891.  A  very  successful  mis- 
sion was  conducted  in  the  parish  in  October, 
1888,  by  Rev.  Arnold  Damen,  the  famous 
Jesuit  Missionary.  Father  Nugent  went  from 
Cheyenne  to  Lincoln,  Nebraska,  where  he 
was  rector  of  the  Cathedral.  He  joined  the 
Benedictine  monks  at  Birmingham,  England, 
where  he  was  professed  September  8th,  1902^ 
and  died  in  London,  March  15,  1920  (he  was 
born  in  county  Tyrone,  Ireland,  in  1859,  and 
ordained  at  Baltimore,  Md.,  by  Cardinal  Gib- 
bons in  1882).  Father  Nugent  was  an  inde- 
fatigable worker,  but  a  poor  financial  man- 
ager. The  Bishop  on  his  return  from  a  pro- 
longed sojourn  m  Rome,  was  compelled  to 
borrow  money  to  pay  various  debts  contract- 
ed by   Father   Nugent. 

Rev.  John  T.  Smith  was  pastor  from  July 
9th,  1886,  to  November  23rd,  1887.  It  was 
in  this  latter  year  that  Cheyenne  was  created 
a  diocese,  and  on  the  arrival  of  the  first 
Bishop,  Rt.  Rev.  Maurice  F.  Burke,  D.  D., 
Father  Smith  returned  to  his  own  'diocese' 
and  was  stationed  at  Hubbard,  Nebraska,  for 
a  short  time,  then  at  Sacred  Heart  Parish 
Omaha,  and  finally  at  St.  Patrick's  Church! 
Omaha.  He  cleared  that  parish  of  a  large 
debt  and  erected  a  beautiful  new  brick  church 
and  died  there  February,  1915.  At  the  ad- 
vent of  Bishop  Burke  a  $6000.00  addition  was 
made  to  the  parochial  residence  for  the  ac- 
commodation of  the  bishop. 

Rev.  M.  J.  Carmody  *vas  in  charge  from 
May,  1891,  to  March,  1892. 

Rev.  Edward  Fitzgerald  from  July,  1892, 
to  November,  1893.  He  followed  the  Bishop, 
on  the  latter's  transfer  to  St.  Joseph,  and 
later  was  appointed  Chaplain  in  the  United 
States  Army  and  retired  with  the  rank  of 
Major,  residing  in  southern  California  until 
the  outbreak  of  the  present  war  when  he  was 
recalled  to  duty  and  is  now  serving  at  Ft. 
Douglas,  Salt  Lake  City. 

Rev.  Thomas  Conway  assumed  charge  in 
December,  1893,  and  remained  until  Novem- 
ber, 1897,  leaving  for  Colorado  after  the  ar- 
rival of  Bishop  Lenihan.  He  is  now  doing 
effective  work  in  Grand  Junction,  Colorado, 
where  he  has  built  a  brick  church  and 
school. 

Rev.  P.  U.  Sasse  was  in  charge  from  No- 
vember, 1897,  to  December,  1900.  From 
Cheyenne  he  was  sent  to  Sheridan  where  he 
built  a  brick  church;  then  to  Rawlins  and  is 
now  pastor  at   Golden,   Colorado. 


34 


Rev.  George  J.  Bryant  served  as  pastor 
from  December,  1900,  to  January,  1902;  he 
was  then  sent  to  Casper,  where  he  built  a 
frame  parochial  residence.  He  is  now  as- 
sistant at  St.  Augustine's  church,  Oakland, 
California. 

Rev.  Michael  A.  Kennedy  served  the  parish 
from  May,  1903,  to  December,  1903.  He  held 
other  charges  in  the  diocese,  and  died  in 
1911,  pastor  of  Rock  Springs. 

Rev.  James  A.  Duffy  was  in  charge  from 
November,  1904,  to  April,  1913.  He  was  of 
invaluable  assistance  to  Bishop  Keane,  dur- 
ing whose  administration  the  new  cathedral 
and  Bishop's  house  were  erected.  After  the 
opening  of  the  new  cathedral  a  mission  was 
conducted  by  the  Paulist  Fathers  of  New 
York  City.  Father  Duffy's  splendid  work 
was  recognized  by  his  ecclesiastical  superiors, 
and  he  was  appointed  bishop  of  the  newly 
erected  see  of  Kearnev,  Nebraska,  Januarv, 
1913. 

Bishop  McGovern  took  personal  charge 
until  May  1st,  1915,  when  he  appointed  Rev. 
James  A.  Hartmann  rector.  It  was  during 
the  latter's  able  administration  that  the  small 
debt  remaining  on  the  cathedral  was  liquidat- 
ed, three  houses  and  lots  on  21st  street  join- 
ing the  church  property  purchased,  and  Ca- 
thedral Hall  erected  as  a  social  center  for 
the  people  of  the  parish.  This  last  mentioned 
institution,  with  the  ground  on  which  it 
stands,  represents  an  outlay  of  $120,000.00 
and  has  no  rival  between  the  Mississippi 
river  and  the  Pacific  coast.  Fr.  Hartmann 
also  improved  Olivet  cemetery  by  the  addi- 
tion of  beautiful  and  substantial  gates,  by 
placing  the  monuments  in  straight  and  par- 
allell  lines,  and  by  getting  most  of  the  lots 
under  perpetual  care.  The  beautiful  Celtic 
Cross  of  Barre  Granite  in  the  center  of  the 
cemetery*  erected  in  1923  at  an  expense  of 
$3000.00  was  the  gift  of  Bishop  McGovern. 

A  two-weeks'  mission  was  conducted  by 
Rev.  P.  B.  Donnelly,  D.  D.,  an  Oblate  Father 
from  London,  England,  from  November  11th 
to  25th,  and  another  two-weeks'  mission  by 
Revs.  J.  Cunningham  and  J.  McGuire,  both 
of  the  societv  of  Jesus,  from  September  24th 
to  October  8th,  1922. 

The  following  legacies  have  been  left  to 
St.   Mary's  cathedral  since  1908: 

From  James  Duffy,  property  valued  at 
from  $2000.00  to  $3000.00;  from  William 
Moffatt  $500..00;  from  Nora  Van  Dyke 
$1000.00;  and  from  Ellen  Conroy  $2728.00, 
half  of  which,  however,  was  voluntarily  turn- 
ed over  to  her  niece,  Ellen  Welch. 

Among  prominent  members  of  the  parish 
may  be  mentioned:  Messrs.  John  F.  Crow- 
ley, John  Martin,  P.  Jacob  Gauff,  Dennis 
J.  O'Connell,  Joseph  Cahill,  Charles  Mc- 
Garvey,  Dr.  J.  H.  Conway,  Thomas  Mc- 
Inerney,  Frank  Bon,  William  Mullen,  Dr. 
T.  J.  Henneberry,  John  T.  Bell,  William 
Dinneen,  John  H.  Smith,  John  McDonald 
Joseph  O'Mahoney,  Walter  Phelan;  and 
Mesdames  A.   E.  Roedel  and  Mary  Schmidt. 

(Signed)     PATRICK  A.  McGOVERN. 
1024 


COUTANT  NOTES 
Sheridan   County 

Organized  in  1888,  named  for  General  Phi 
Sheridan,  90  miles  east  and  west,  30  mile* 
north  and  south  making  2700  square  miles. 

Organized  in  May,  1888,  under  the  count} 
organization  act  of  territory  legislature 
passed  March  9,  1888. 

Sheridan  County  was  created  from  th( 
northern  portion  of  Johnson  County.  Apri 
12,  1888,  Governor  Moonlight  appointed  th< 
following  as  commissioners  to  organize  Sher- 
idan County:  Henry  Baker,  Dayton;  Cor- 
nelius Bulware,  Big  Horn;  and  Marion  C 
Harris,  Sheridan.  The  election  resulted  I 
choosing  the  following  officials: 

Sheriff — Thomas  J.   Keesee. 

Clerk— Frank   McCoy. 

Treasurer — James  P.  Robinson. 

Attorney — William  J.  Stover. 

Commissioners — M.  C.  Harris. 

Commissioners — W.  E.  Jackson. 

Commissioners — Peter   Reynolds. 

Superintendent  Schools  —  Richard  Mc- 
Grath. 

Assessor — Pulaski   Calvert. 

Surveyor — Jack  Dow. 

Coroner — Dr.   Wilbur   F.   Green. 

Road    Superintendent — James   T.    Glasgow 

Total  vote  footed   up  958. 

County  seat  vote  was  as  follows:  Sheri- 
dan 486,  Big  Horn  248  and  Dayton  224. 

The  Commissioners  appointed  three  quali- 
fied electors  in  each  voting  precinct  to  acl 
as   Judges. 

Pass  Creek — T.  R.  Dana,  Samuel  Church 
and  Wesley  Brittain. 

Ohlman — D.  A.  Ditz,  Emanuel  Achenbacb 
and  John  W.  Bill. 

Dayton — Ed.  R.  Dinwiddie,  Joseph  D 
Thorn  and  Dennie  G.  Frisbie. 

Bingham — Wm.  Garrard,  George  W.  Abee 
J.  W.   Patterson. 

Tongue  River — Samuel  H.  Early,  William 
E.  Wagner,  J.  M.  Barnett. 

Sheridan — Oliver  P.  Hardee,  Marcellers  E] 
Sawin,  Henry  Held. 

Beckton — R.  W.  Moline,  James  R.  Robin- 
son,  Harry   Fulmer. 

Big  Horn — Richard  D.  Darlington,  Charles 
W.  Skinner,  Alfonso  Lambrugger. 

Banner — James  Terrill,  John  W.  Price, 
Wm.   W.    Hazen. 

Lower  Prairie  Dog — Arthur  P.  Dow,  John 
C.   Patterson,   Oscar   T.   Smith. 

Piney — John  H.  Dunlay,  Barnes  Burris, 
Frank  Sturdevant. 

Bear  Creek— -J.  Smith,  J.  J.  Davis,  William 
H.   Hunt.    . 

Notice    in    Post    calling    election    April    25,, 


,(SEAL) 

Seal  adopted  on  the  organization  of  Sheri- 
dan County  Mav  9,  1888. 

Sheridan,  Wyoming,  May  9th,  1888,  1:30 
p.  m. 

The  commissioners  met,  there  being  pres.-  • 
ent   Henry   Baker,   Chairman   Cornelius   Bou- 
laure  and  M.  C.   Harris. 

Sheridan  having  received  the  highest  num- 
ber of  votes  cast  for  the  county  seat  is  de- 
clared the  county  seat  of  Sheridan  County. 


35 


First  county  officers  elected  in  Sheridan 
ounty. 

Sheriff,  Franke  Keesee;  County  Clerk, 
rank  McCoy;  Prohate  Judge  and  County 
reasurer,  James  P.  Rohinson;  Prosecuting 
ttorney,  Wm.  J.  Stover;  county  commis- 
oncrs,  Marion  C.  Harris,  Wm.  E.  Jackson, 
eter  Reynolds. 

County  Supt.  of  Schools  —  Richard  Mc- 
rath. 

Coroner — Wilbur  T.   Green. 

County  Surveyor — Jack  Dow. 

Assessor — Pulaski  Calvert. 

Road   Supervisor — James  T.   Glasco. 

Justice  of  Peace — John  T.  Yeakey  (Tongue 
Ever  District). 

Constable— W.  H.  Wilerson  (Sheridan  Dis- 

Ict). 


In 

M. 
lule 


County  After  It  Was  Organized 
History 

the  spring  of  1880  in  company  with 
Works,  we  left  Bedford,  Iowa,  with  a 
team  bound  overland  for  Bozeman, 
lontana.  We  proceeded  on  our  journey 
ithout  any  mishaps  and  crossed  Big  Goose 
t  the  present  site  of  the  town  of  Sheridan 
bout  the  twentieth  of  June,  was  favorably 
npressed  with  the  locality  and  fertility  of  the 
auntry,  but  wishing  to  see  more  we  pushed 
n  ana  camped  June  26th,  on  Custer's  battle- 
eld  on  the  Little  Horn,  just  four  years  after 
le  fight.  Saw  where  the  men  fell,  as  there 
ad  been  no  effort  made  to  bury  them  in  a 
rave  but  had  just  thrown  dirt  over  them, 
;aving  some  of  their  feet  with  their  boots 
n  sticking  out.     Their  lines  was  in  the  shape 

a  V  as  they  came  down  a  ridge  towards 
ne  river,  one  line  on  each  side  coming  about 
ne  and  a  half  miles  from  the  river  with 
'uster  at  the   point. 

We  arrived  at  the  end  of  our  destination, 
lozeman,  on  the  11th  day  of  July.  Here  we 
tayed  a  couple  of  months  and  seeing  noth- 
lg  that  suited  us  as  well  as  the  Goose  Creek 
Country.  Mr.  Works  took  the  team  and  in 
ompany  with  Judd  Dunham  returned  to 
lat  place,  where  he  arrived  the  first  of  Octo- 
er  and  built  a  cabin  on  unsurveyed  Govern- 
lent  land,  about  three  miles  above  the  pres- 
nt  location  of  Sheridan.  I  bought  a  pony 
ufit  and  took  a  trip  through  the  Yellow- 
tone  Park,  returned  to  Bozeman  and  took 
he  stage  in  October  for  Red  Rock,  Mon- 
ina,  then  the  terminus  of  the  U.  and  N. 
pilroad,  spent  some  little  time  at  Virginia 
Sty  and  intermediate  points,  and  at  Ogden 
aok  the  overland  R.  R.  for  home  in  Iowa, 
n  the  spring  of  1881  packed  up  our  goods 
nd  started  back  to  this  country  "via"  St. 
>aul  and  Bismarck,  then  the  terminus  of  the 
§  P.  R.  R.  Here  we  took  a  small  steamer 
ound  for  Miles  City.  On  our  way,  at  old 
•'ort  Berthold  we  visited  the  Indian  camp  of 
700  of  Sitting  Bull's  surrendered  Indians. 
Be  arrived  at  Miles  City  in  June,  1881.  On 
he  opposite  side  of  Tongue  river  from  Miles 

ty  and  below  Fort  Keogh  was  "Rain  in 
he  Face's"  band  of  1600  Indians  waiting 
ran-'-ortaiion  to  Standing  Rock  Agency  on 
he  Missouri  in  the  Dakotas.  The  steamboats 
oon  arrived  and  the  landing  commenced.  It 
fes   an    impressive    scene,    the    Indians    were 


camped  on  the  Yellowstone,  which  was  very 
high  at  that  time  of  the  year,  above  them 
Fort  Keogh,  below  them  Tongue  river  and 
in  their  rear  soldiers  with  cannon  at  com- 
manding places.  For  two  days  and  nights 
while  getting  everything  in  readiness,  the 
Indians  and  more  especially  the  squaws  kept 
up  their  dismal  howlings  on  taking  their 
farewell  to  their  beloved  homes  and  hunting 
grounds.  On  the  morning  of  the  third  day 
they  were  forced,  at  the  point  of  the  bayonet 
and  the  cannon,  on  board  of  the  several 
steamers,  and  were  soon  wending  their  way 
down  the  stream.  Thus  departed  Sitting 
Bull,  Rain  in  the  Face,  their  brave  warriors, 
squaws  and  papooses,  with  all  their  glory, 
to  take  up  the  degrading  life  to  them,  of  an 
agency  Indian.  Their  country,  once  theirs, 
was  now  open  for  settlement  by  the  whites. 
I  remained  in  Miles  City,  that  summer  and 
winter,  when  the  N.  P.  R.  R.  was  completed 
to  that  place.  On  the  first  day  of  March, 
1882,  in  company  with  Hon.  John  McCormick 
(leaving  my  family  in  Miles  City)  we  started 
with  teams  for  the  Gcose  Creek  country, 
arriving  there  about  the  20th  of  March,  hav- 
ing camped  out  the  bigger  part  of  the  way. 
Sackett  &  Skinner  had  settled  on,  and  built 
a  small  store  on  the  new7  present  site  of  Big 
Horn.  Hon.  George  T.  Beck  had  located 
and  was  living  on  a  ranch  on  Big  Goose,  now 
called  Beckton,  Richard  McGrath  was  keep- 
ing stage  station  on  Wolf  Creek.  R.  F.  Mock 
kept  the  post  office  called  Bingham  on 
Tongue  River  and  John  Rhodes,  (J.  M. 
Work's  son-in-law)  was  keeping  the  Mondell 
post  office  at  the  Big  Goose  crossing.  I 
found  my  old  friend  J.  M.  Works  comfort- 
ably situated  on  a  ranch  three  miles  above 
the  crossing.  I  took  up  a  claim  (which  we 
now  own)  two  miles  farther  up.  This  was 
in  March,  1882,  the  land  had  been  surveyed 
during  my  absence  in  the  fall  of  1881.  Mr. 
Rhodes  wishing  to  leave  for  a  more  prom- 
ising country.  I  bought  his  outfit  and  took 
charge  of  the  post-office  about  April  the  10th. 
I  walked  about  ten  miles  to  be  sworn  in  and 
walked  back  the  same  day  and  on  this  walk 
I  conceived  the  idea  that  at  the  crossing  and 
at  the  junction  of  the  two  streams,  was  a 
natural  location  for  a  small  town  or  trading 
post.  And  forthwith  I  invited  what  few  set- 
tlers I  could  find,  J.  Walter  Scott,  M.  L. 
Sawin,  J.  G.  Hunter,  Ken  M.  Burkitt,  Alex 
Gould,  who  met  at  my  place  on  the  first  of 
May,  talked  the  matter  over  and  agreed  it 
was  worth  attempting.  We  met  again  in  a 
few  days,  organized  a  company  of  which 
I  was  elected  President,  J.  Walter  Scott  Sec. 
and  Ken  M.  Burkitt  Treas.  We  talked  over 
the  prospect  of  building  up  a  town  and  came 
to  the  conclusion  that  forty  acres  was  more 
than  enough  for  years  to  come.  As  Presi- 
dent I  advanced  three  dollars,  the  registering 
fee,  sent  to  Cheyenne,  presented  it  as  town- 
site  and  had  it  withdrawn  as  such,  from  the 
market,  and  on  May  the  10th,  1882,  with 
Jack  Dow  for  surveyor  we  commenced  to 
stake  out  the  town.  At  a  subsequent  meet- 
ing we  named  our  staked  out  town  Sheridan, 
and  in  order  to  raise  funds  to  pay  expenses, 
we  required  every  one  who  took  a  lot  to  pay 
the  sum  of  $2.50  for  the  first  and  fifty  cents 


36 


for  each  additional  lot.  Besides  the  building 
which  I  occupied,  (which  was  built  by  George 
Mondel)  at  the  crossing,  was  a  small  log 
house  used  for  a  dwelling,  and  quite  a  large 
log  building  used  for  a  stable,  both  buildings 
were  said  to  have  been  built  by  horse  thieves 
and  used  for  their  purpose. 

The  mails  were  carried  through  this  part 
of  the  country  on  buckboards,  and  when  the 
streams  were  high  they  could  not  cross,  but 
would  stretch  a  rope  across  and  pull  the  mail 
over  on  it,  and  sometimes  passengers  when 
they  would  visit  it  the  drivers  would  then 
turn  round  and  go  back  to  the  next  stream 
or  station.  Big  Goose,  being  one  of  the  un- 
crossable  streams,  the  driver  quite  often  had 
to  wait  here  and  sometimes  stay  all  night. 
There  was  at  this  time  a  big  six  footer  by 
the  name  of  Foster  driving  on  this  run,  who 
was  stopping  with  me  one  night,  when  at 
about  dusk  five  big  buck  Indians  came  march- 
ing in,  asked  for  something  to  eat,.  (I  was 
just  getting  supper (  and  stay  all  night.  As 
it  was  raining  I  did  not  like  to  turn  them 
out,  and  did  not  like  the  looks  of  them  either, 
they  were  big  ugly  looking  fellows  and  well 
armed.  I  knew  they  were  not  Crows,  they 
seemed  sullen  and  would  not  talk  much,  Fos- 
ter said  they  were  Cheyennes  and  were  out 
on  mischief  and  for  me  not  to  let  them  stay, 
as  they  would  certainly  rob  and  maybe  mur- 
der both  of  us.  I  thought  I  could  better 
control  them  inside  than  out,  at  least  I  did 
not  want  to  let  them  know  I  was  afraid  of 
them;  I  told  them  yes,  and  went  on  cooking 
supper,  paying  no  more  attention  to  them 
until  supper  was  ready.  I  then  filled  full 
tinplates  for  four  of  them,  then  set  supper  on 
the  table  for  Foster  and  I  then  addressing 
the  one  I  took  for  leader,  told  him,  Foster 
my  friend.  You  my  friend,  sit  down  and  eat 
with  him,  he  looked  at  me  and  then  at  the 
others.  I  said  again,  you  my  friend,  and  mo- 
tioned to  him  to  sit  up  in  my  place,  at  that 
the  others  said  "How"  then  he  said  "How" 
and  took  the  seat,  then  I  knew  all  was  right. 
And  when  we  came  to  go  to  bed,  they  spread 
their  blankets  on  the  floor  (ground  floor), 
they  gave  me  their  guns  and  belts  to  keep 
until  morning,  and  to  show  them  that  I 
trusted  them,  I  stood  their  guns  up  at  their 
heads  when  they  said  "How"  again.  Foster 
took  his  blankets  and  crawled  through  a  hole 
we  had  for  a  window  and  took  for  the  brush, 
saving  that  he  was  not  going  to  trust  his 
scalp  in  the  hands  of  no  treacherous  Indians. 
I  laid  down  and  slept  as  soundly  as  ever 
knowing  that  an  Indian  never  went  back  on 
friendship.  Next  morning  at  daylight  all 
were  up  and  they  seemed  pleased  to  find 
everything  as  we  had  left  them.  I  gave  them 
their  breakfast,  some  tobacco,  bacon  and 
Hour  and  started  them  on  their  way  with  a 
hearty  "How."  Foster  didn't  show  up  until 
after  they  were  gone,  seemed  surprised  to 
find  everything  all  right,  said  he  did  not  have 
very  pleasant  time  of  it,  laid  awake  all  night 
expecting  every  moment  to  see  the  shack 
afire.  On  the  next  morning  one  lone  Indian 
came  riding  up,  said  "How"  and  then  pro- 
ceeded to  stretch  and  nail  upon  one  end  of 
the  cabin,  two  freshly  caught  beaver  hides 
witli    the    remark    "you   keep,"    then    I    recog- 


nized one  of  my  friends  of  the  day  before 
and  with  a  "How"  he  was  off.  Henry  Helc 
built  and  operated  a  blacksmith  shop,  the 
first  permanent  building  on  the  townsite,  R 
Cornwell  built  the  first  residence,  and  his 
family  was  the  first  to  live  in  the  town,  the 
next  building  was  a  saloon.  This  was  aboi| 
the  first  of  July.  I  sent  for  my  family  abotlj 
that  time,  cost  me  $150.00  to  bring  them  frorj 
Miles  City  a  distance  of  150  miles,  were  fif- 
teen days  making  the  trip,  no  bridges  at  thai 
time  and  had  to  ford  streams  quite  often 
which  at  times  were  dangerous,  I  had  at  this 
time  increased  my  stock  of  goods.  Hon 
Robert  Foote  of  Buffalo,  kindly  and  mater 
ially  aided  me,  for  such  unselfish  deeds  tc 
the  early  settlers,  he  is  entitled  to  the  gratii 
tude  of  the  country.  And  among  my  firs 
customers,  after  I  received  my  first  load  a 
goods,  was  "White  Horse"  and  his  band  o 
about  one  hundred  Indians,  squaws  and  pa 
pooses,  of  the  Crow  tribe.  They  campeo 
on  the  opposite  side  of  the  creek  for  abou| 
three  days.  The  first  day  was  spent  wit! 
them  in  looking  over  things,  pricing,  etc. 
towards  evening  a  small  band  of  bucks  carai 
marching  in,  headed  by  an  ugly  and  ill-tem 
pered  looking  fellow,  who  demanded  "Whis 
key."  I  told  him  I  did  not  keep  it,  he  di< 
not  seem  satisfied  but  proceeded  to  hunt  fo 
it,  he  come  around  behind  the  counter, 
stepped  before  him,  and  asked  him  agaiij 
what  he  wanted,  he  said  "Whiskey."  I  tol< 
him  again  I  did  not  keep  it,  at  that  he  carai 
close  up  to  me  and  said  in  my  face  "vol 
lie." 

I  grabbed  him  by  the  shoulders,  turned  hin 
around  and  pushed  and  kicked  him  out  of  tb 
door,   the   others   stood   looking  on,   grinninj 
and  grunting  their  approval,  and  followed  hin 
out  and  hissed  him  back  to  camp,  after  tha, 
I    had    no   more    trouble.      The}'    cleaned    m> 
out  of  sugar,  bacon,  flour,  red  and  blue  calici 
and  went  their  way  rejoicing,  and   I  cleanei, 
them  out  of  buffalo  robes,  beaver  hides  am. 
what   silver   dollars   they   had   and   ever   afte] 
we   were  good   friends.      During  the   summej 
and   fall   several  families  moved   in  and   tool, 
up  claims  in  the  near  vicinity.     That  fall  war 
general    election,    we    had    ^    voting    precinc, 
established   and  as   1   was  one  of  the  Judge 
we  used  my  kitchen  for  a  voting  place.     A 
this  election,  I  saw  for  the  first  time  womqi 
at  the  polls  voting,  and  let  it  be  said  to  th 
credit  of  the  "Wild  and  Wooley  West,"  cow 
boys,    hunters,    trappers    and    ranchers,    wh 
were    assembled    there,    that    I    never    saw 
more   orderly,   or   well   conducted   election   i: 
my    life,    when    the    ladies    came    up    to    vot 
(there    were    seven    of    them),    loud    talkiiv 
ceased,  the  crowd  opened  ranks,  hats  off  an 
woe    to    any    one    who    would    have    dared    t 
utter    an    oath    or    slurring    remark    in    thei 
presence.      We    polled    somewhere    near    on 
hundred   votes.      At   this   election   party   line 
were   not   drawn,  each  one  voting  for,  as  w  j 
thought,  the  best  man  for  the  place.     Duriri 
this  fall  we  made  application  to  be  represent 
ed    in    the    Big    Horn    school    district,    whic| 
was    done".      The    man    that    had    taken    th 
claim   that   the   little   log   house   was  on   cor 
eluded  that  he  did  not   want  it,  so  he  move 
it  over   for  us  a  kitchen,  and   in   this   we  ha 


37 


first  school  of  fifteen  scholars.  Miss 
ira  Works  (now  Mrs.  Moehler  of  Buffalo) 
s  our  first  teacher,  wages  $75.00  per  month, 
bad  made  application  and  was  appointed 
itary  Puhlic,  was  then  the  only  officer  who 
lid  administer  oaths,  take  acknowledge- 
nts,  etc.,  within  a  large  scope  of  country, 
inter  set  in  early  and  cold,  snow  was  deep, 
.1  I  saw  the  thermometer  go  down  to  46 
o\v  zero  the  first  of  February.  A  great 
ny  cattle  died  that  winter  for  several  cat- 
companies  had  located  in  the  numerous 
;leys,  and  had  brought  in  vast  herds, 
long  these  were  the  Grinnell  Live  Stock 
mpany,  Hardin  &  Campbell,  Patrick 
others,  Conrad  and  Company,  Ferguson 
others,  Cross  &  Dunnick  and  a  few  others. 

winter  set  in  early  spring  opened  early 
).  Crops  were  put  in  and  a  big  harvest 
urned,  settlers  came  in  thick  and  fast  and 

the  first  of  December,   1883,  nearly  every 

in  town  was  occupied  by  some  one  with 
|ry  conceivable  kind  of  a  lodging  place. 
I.  H.  Conrad  &  Company  had  built  a  large 
ire  in  the  spring  and  had  filled  it  with  a 
>ck  of  general  merchandise.  I  had  also 
ilt    quite   a    large    building    (now    occupied 

the  First  National  Bank)  and  filled  it  with 
ods.  The  school  district  had  built  a  $1,- 
).UU  school  house  and  other  buildings  such 

hotels,  livery  barns,  saloons,  blacksmith 
:>ps  and  dwelling  houses  showed  the  pros- 
rity  of  the  town.  We  had  built  a  bridge 
-oss  Big  Goose  and  settlers  still  continued 

come,  ditches  were  being  taken  out  of  the 
feral  streams  and  the  soil  responded  boun- 
Lilly  to  the  industry  of  the  pioneer  settler, 
le  first  marriage  took  place  in  Sheridan 
s  summer,  the  bride  was  a  Miss  Cole,  and 
rather    funny    or    to    them    serious    mishap 

break  occurred  right  here,  as  I  was  a 
tary  public  the  groom  (being  ignorant  of 
i  duties  of  that  officer)  took  for  granted 
it   I  could  perform  the  marriage  ceremony 

well  as  to  administer  oaths,  etc.,  supper 
is  ready  and  everything  else  including  the 
ide.      When    the   groom   came   over   to   in- 

m  me  that  my  presence  was  needed  in  an 
icial  capacity  to  solemnize  the  marriage 
es  but   I    (Oh   how   I   hated  to   do   it)    had 

inform  him  that  the  law  did  not  permit 
\  to  perform  that  pleasing  ceremony,  and 
it  he  would  have  to  look  elsewhere,  with 
le  western  grit  he  saddled  up  a  bronc, 
irted  out  on  a  12  mile  trip  to  the  home  of 
der  Benton  above  Big  Horn,  arrived  back 

2  a.  m.,  found  the  bride  and  supper  still 
liting   and    was    soon    joined    in   the   bonds 

matrimony  by  the  Flder  in  true  orthodox 
,-le.  In  the  fall  and  winter  of  1883  we 
aught  ourselves  of  enough  importance  to 
rorporate.  So  R.  M.  Cotton,  an  attorney 
)m  Colorado,  who  had  opened  up  an  office 

Sheridan  and  myself  drew  up  the  neces- 
ry  bill  which  passed  the  Legislature  in  Jan., 
k  We  held  our  first  election  on  the  2nd 
lesday  in  March,  when  the  following  offi- 
rs    were    elected.      Mayor,    J.    D.    Loucks, 

ustees.  M.  C.  Harris.  Robert  J.  Mills  and 
ios.  M.  Cotton.  Thus  we  became  an  in- 
rporated  town  in  the  midst  of  a  prosperous 
mmunity.  To  show  the  peaceable  char- 
ter  and   disposition   of   the   early    settlers    I 


will  mention  this  incident.  In  the  fall  of  '84 
we  elected  George  Brundage,  Justice  of  the 
Peace  and  during  the  two  years  he  served 
he  had  but  one  case  before  him  which  took 
place  in  this  primitive  style,  the  constable 
arrested  a  man  for  some  offense  and  started 
with  him  for  the  home  of  Mr.  Brundage, 
which  was  then  too  high  to  cross,  so  stand- 
ing on  the  bank  with  the  prisoner,  he  yelled 
over  to  Mr.  Brundage,  who  was  working  in 
sight.  He  came  to  the  bank  and  wanted  to 
know  what  was  wanted,  the  constable  told 
him  who  he  had,  the  nature  of  the  crime, 
etc.,  the  justice  then  asked  the  prisoner  if  the 
charge  was  true,  to  which  he  answered  yes. 
"Men  the  verdict  of  this  court  is  that  you 
pay  in  the  hands  of  the  constable  five  dollars, 
and  when  it  is  paid  you  are  at  liberty,"  the 
prisoner  paid  the  fine,  started  up  the  creek, 
the  constable  back  to  town  and  the  Justice 
to   his   work. 

During  all  this  time  there  had  not  been 
a  single  sermon  of  any  kind  preached  here, 
although  a  Sunday  school  had  been  success- 
fully carried  on.  In  the  spring  of  '84  there 
got  off  the  stage  one  morning  quite  a  young 
man  by  the  name  of  Probert  right  from 
Wales,  England,  who  said  that  he  had  been 
sent  to  Sheridan  by  the  Congregational  Mis- 
sion Society,  and  on  the  following  Sunday 
he  preached  the  first  sermon  in  Sheridan. 
He  stayed  one  year  and  was  then  transferred 
to  Africa.  Rev.  Jennings  took  his  place  and 
remained  two  years.  In  the  summer  of  '87 
Rev.  Rader,  superintendent  of  Wyoming  of 
the  M.  E.  Church  arrived  and  organized  the 
Methodist  Church.  Rev.  Vosselter  the  first 
M.  E.  minister.  Then  came  Rev.  T.  T.  Howd 
and  organized  the  Baptist  Church.  The  firsT 
newspaper,  "The  Sheridan  Post,"  put  out  its 
first  edition  in  May,  1887,  J.  D.  Loucks  and 
Thomas  M.  Cotton  publishers.  Thos.  M. 
Cotton  editor.  In  the  fall  T.  T.  Tynan  & 
Fay  Sommers  launched  forth  the  Enterprise. 

At  the  election  in  the  fall  of  1886  the  Re- 
publicans put  forth  their  first  party  ticket 
with  J.  D.  Loucks  at  the  head  for  Council- 
man, who  was  elected  as  was  the  bigger  part 
of  the  ticket.  During  the  year  of  '87  we  of 
the  northern  part  of  Johnson  County,  not 
liking  the  treatment  we  were  receiving  at 
the  hands  of  the  southern  part  concluded  we 
would  be  better  off  if  we  had  a  county  of 
our  own.  With  this  feeling  and  wish  of  the 
northern  part,  in  conjunction  with  Mr.  Guern- 
sey of  Lusk  we  introduced  in  the  Council 
of  the  Legislature  of  1888  a  bill  creating 
four  new  counties.  I  was  chairman  of  the 
committee  on  Counties  in  the  Council,  took 
the  bill  up  promptly  and  had  it  passed  11  to 
1.  But  in  the  house  it  met  opposition  and 
was  amended  to  three  counties.  A  confer- 
ence committee  was  then  appointed  and  the 
council  agreed  to  the  amendment,  but  before 
it  was  completed  in  the  house,  some  one  stole 
the  bill  in  the  evening  of  the  last  day  of  the 
session,  and  as  there  was  only  one  more  bill 
to  pass,  the  appropriation  bill,  it  looked  as 
if  that  was  the  end  of  the  three  new  counties. 
Nothing  daunted,  we  called  our  forces  to- 
gether, engaged  four  good  clerks,  and  while 
the  house  was  putting  the  finishing  touches 
to  the  appropriation  bill,  we  drew  up  another 


38 


County  Bill.  I  had  anticipated  some  trouble 
of  some  kind,  so  had  the  engrossing  clerk 
to  make  me  a  copy  of  our  part  of  the  bill, 
the  part  pertaining  to  Sheridan  County,  some 
few  days  previous,  so  I  could  be  prepared  for 
any  emergency  and  could  tack  it  on  some 
other  bill,  and  in  order  to  gain  time,  when 
the  appropriation  bill  was  brought  in  the 
council.  I  moved  that  it  be  sent  back  for 
(some  imaginary)  correction,  and  it  was  so 
done  and  as  it  was  nearing  the  hour  of  mid- 
night I,  the  President,  asked  to  have  the  Ser- 
geant at  Arms  to  stop  the  clock  which  was 
done  at  11:45,  we  then  voted  to  have  lunch 
and  by  1  A.  M.  the  clerks  had  the  county 
bill  prepared,  was  then  called  to  order,  the 
appropriation  bill  was  then  read  the  first 
time,  referred  to  proper  committee,  reported 
favorable,  read  the  second  time  before  the 
committee  of  the  whole,  when  I  moved  to 
amend  by  annexing  the  county  bill  which 
was  done  and  passed  the  council  at  about  4 
a.  m.,  then  sent  to  the  house  for  concurrence, 
passed   and   sent   to   Governor   Moonlight   by 

5  a.  m.  when  he  vetoed  the  whole  thing,  and 
the  funny  part  of  it  was,  he  dated  his  veto 
the  day  before,  as  he  had  been  up  all  night 
signing  bills  and  sending  to  the  council  for 
concurrence,  appointment  to  office,  he  had 
forgotten  another  day  had  commenced.  When 
Johnson  County  brought  suit  to  enjoin  Sheri- 
dan County  from  organizing  on  the  account 
of  the  illegality  of  the  act  as  they  claimed 
it  was  passed  the  day  after  the  date  fixed  by 
law  for  the  legislature  to  have  adjourned  this 
was  the  important  factor  in  our  favor. 

The    bill    was    returned    to    the   council    by 

6  a.  m.,  passed  over  the  veto  by  both  houses, 
sent  to  the  secretary  of  the  Territory  and 
returned  to  the  council  with  his  certificate 
of  filing  by  8  a.  m.  when  we  adjourned  sine 
die.  Hon.  J.  A.  Riner  President  of  the  coun- 
cil. I  immediately  wired  to  Sheridan  via 
Fort  McKinney  the  results  when  they  im- 
mediately started  for  Cheyenne  the  necessary 
petition,  which  the  Governor  refused  to  rec- 
ognize, because  he  said  the  bill  said  a  peti- 
tion and  this  was  in  two  sections. 

So  the  work  had  to  be  done  over  again 
which  was  accomplished  in  a  few  days,  and 
upon  this  petition  the  Governor  appointed 
the  required  commissioners  to  organize  the 
new  county  of  Sheridan.  Said  Commission- 
ers M.  C.  Harris  of  Sheridan.  W.  E.  Jackson 
of  Big  Horn,  Henry  Baker  of  Dayton,  who 
called  an  election,  and  some  time  in  May, 
1888,  the  county  was  fully  organized  bjr  elect- 
ing the  regular  officers  and  swearing  them 
in  office. 

Sheridan  was  chosen  County  Seat,  and  thus 
out  of  difficulty  the  northern  star  of  Wyo- 
ming arose  and  blazed  forth  never  to  set, 
and  may  its  light  never  be  dimmed  by  in- 
famy or  dishonesty. 

By  J.  D.  LOUCKS. 


Rawlins,  Wyominj 

May  21st,  '91 
Col.  Coutant, 

Dear  Sir: — 

Mr.  Tom  Sun  tells  me  that  in  1880  Williai 
Daley  and  others  selected  a  route  from  Rav 
lins  to  Lander.  They  were  accompanied  * 
guards  by  some  soldiers,  one  of  whom  wai 
dered  away  from  camp  on  what  is  now  Lo.1 
Soldier  Creek  and  losing  himself  wandere 
east  to  Tom  Sun's  ranch.  The  latch  stria 
was  out  but  the  soldier  removed  two  pane 
of  glass  and  unbuttoned  the  hinged  sash,  ej 
tering  the  cabin  in  this  way  found  victual 
to  satisfy  his  hunger  and  a  place  to  sleei 
From  this  came  the  name  Lost  Soldier.  Tor 
Sun  says  a  man  who  has  not  sense  enoug 
to  go  into  a  man's  home  by  the  door  when 
was  left  open  would  get  lost  anywhere, 
see  Jim  Baker  died  last  Tuesday,  the  17tl 
81  years  old.  This  makes  Washakie  84  year 
old.  Best  regards  and  best  wishes  frol 
yours, 

(Signed)  THOMAS  G.  MAGHEE. 


AMONG  THE  BOOKS 

Dr.  Grace  R.  Hebard  has  brought  ou 
eight  counties  of  her  Place  Names  Series 
The}'  have  been  published  in  the  newspaper 
of  the  counties  she  writes  about.  She  is  alsi 
working  on  her  Biography  of  "Sacajawea." 

"The  Bullwhacker,"  by  Win.  F.  Hookei 
is  just  from  the  press.  Turning  the  pages  a 
random  the  eye  catches  the  familiar  name 
"Tim  Dyer's  Tin  Restaurant,"  Cheyenm 
Trail,  Fort  Fetterman,  La  Bonte  Creek 
John  Hunton,  Charley  Clay.  Ben  Nash  — 
but  why  go  on — the  book  is  replete  witl 
Frontier  History.  The  Wyoming  State  His 
torical   Department   has  purchased  one  copy 

"Uinta  County,  Its  Place  in  History,"  i: 
the  title  chosen  by  Elizabeth  Arnold  Stom 
for  her  history  which  is  now  on  the  press. 

Mrs.  Stone  has  traveled  extensively  al 
supplemented  her  college  training  with  til 
years  in  Europe.  She  was  a  member  of  th< 
first  faculty  of  the  University  of  Wyoming 
where  she  taught  French  and  German.  Shi 
has  inherited  literary  talent,  has  published  « 
small  volume  of  verse,  and  is  a  frequent  con- 
tributor to  newspapers  and  periodicals.  She 
was  born  in  Ohio,  but  has  lived  in  Wyominj 
most  of  her  life,  and  in  the  county  of  which 
she  writes  since  the  year  1875.  In  scope  her 
book  covers  the  natural  wonders  and  beau- 
ties of  the  region,  early  discoveries  and  his- 
tory, and  the  development  of  this  importaia 
original  county  into  the  divisions  of  Tetoa 
Sublette,  Lincoln  and  Uinta  Counties,  as  well 
as  the  Yellowstone  National  Park.  The  book 
will  be  well  illustrated  and  will  carry  maps. 
It  will  be  of  such  value  as  source  material 
that  it  should  be  in  every  library  in  the  state. 
It  will  be  on  the  market  the  middle  of  No- 
vember. Published  by  The  Laramie  Print- 
ing Company.  Price,  regular  cloth  bound 
copies,  $3.5(i.  Special  Autograph  Edition 
bound  in  pantasote  and  limited  to  200  num- 
bered  volumes,  $5.00. 


39 

ACCESSIONS 

July  1,  1924— October  1,  1924 

All  accessions  are  gifts,  unless  otherwise  stated 

Museum 

uford,  Miss  Picture  of  "Calamity  Jane." 

askell,  P.  L Powder  horn. 

Buckshot  mold. 

Caps  of  muzzle  loading  gun. 

allagher,    Mr Two  pictures  of  "Hell's  Half  Acre." 

Fragments  from  bottom  of  "Hell's  Half  Acre." 

Btts,  Mr.  A.  E Old  gun. 

Stage  coach  whip  (Black  Hills  route). 

Mounted  eagle. 

A.  T.  Douglas,  spurs. 

ebard,  Dr.  G.  R Campaign  1899  Statehood  badge. 

Statehood  celebration  badge. 
Frontier  badge. 

ickey    Mr.   Samuel     Sash    and   medallion    for    Grand    Marshall    Staff,    McKinley, 

1897. 

turgis,   Mr.   Wm Six   maps. 

G.  B.  Goodell  chaps,  1873. 
Muzzle  loading  fowling  piece. 
Powder  horn. 
Shot  pouch. 
Civil   war  rifle. 
Haversack,  1863. 
Model  hay  rick,  Sturgis. 

Badge,  Governor  Warren's  Inauguration   1899. 
Card  to  Inaugural  Ball,  April  9,  1889. 
asper  Chamber  of  Commerce    Picture  of  "Unthank"  grave  (1850)  on  Oregon  Trdil. 
ifsTS'rown  and  Bill  Hooker..    Piece  of  post  planted  by  the  Gordon  party  December,  1874. 

Isey,  Mrs.  Henrietta Piece  of  head-light  from  ship  sunk  at  Battle  of  Manila. 

Historical  Library 
Original   Manuscripts — 
m.  Thomas  Maghee. 
[r.   Fin   Burnett. 
[r.   Ed.   Farlow. 
[rs.  Jennie  Boland. 
Ir.  T.  J.  Bryant, 
[ajor  A.  B.  Ostrander. 
t.  Rev.   Patrick   McGovern. 
[r.   T.   S.   Garrett. 
[rs.   Leisberg. 
[rs.  Charles  E.  Ellis. 

Ir.   Chester   Baldwin Lander  records. 

V.  C.  B.  Stafford "Unthank"  correspondence. 

rs.  J.  C.  Coble  Copies  of  manuscripts,  letters  and  five  copies  "Tom  Horn" 

Vindication, 
heyenne    Chamber   of    Com- 
merce      Letter. 

rs.  Nannie  Steele  Original  legal  document. 

r.  Wm.  Sturgis  Original  legal  documents. 

24   newspapers. 

Cheyenne  Club  Year  Book,  Vol.  1,  Nos.  6  and  9. 
'  A  collection  of  pamphlets,  receipts,  etc.,  total  190. 

Bss  Burrill- Manual  of   General   Court  of  Massachusetts.      State   House, 

Boston. 

dwin   M.   Smith..: Bound   newspaper.     "The   Cottontail,"  edited  and  published 

bv  Edwin  M.  Smith   (12  years  old). 

illette   Woman's   Club Year  Book  for  1924-25. 

urchased    by    the    Wyoming 

Historical   Department  Two   copies   "Seventy    i'ears   on   the    Frontier,"   by   Majors 

(Paper).      One    copy    "The    Bullwhacker,"    by    William 
F.   Hooker. 
Newspaper   clippings   and   magazine   arti:les    containing    Wyoming    history    have   been 
mtributed  by  Mrs.  J.  C.  Coble,  Mrs.  A.   H.  Beach,  Mr.  R.  S.  Ellison,  Mr.  Burke  Sinclair, 
r.  C.  B.  Stafford,  Mr.  Greenburg  and  Colonel  Stokes. 

War  History 
rs.  H.  B.  Henderson Historical  Records  of  World  War  Soldiers,  Series  of  month- 
ly bulletins   issued  by   Department  of  A.   L.   A.,  collec- 
tion   of    newspaper    clippings,    correspondence,    annual 
reports  and  programs  by  counties, 
rs.  J.  C.  VanDyke Letter. 


IN    MEMORIAM 

WILLIAM  BRADFORD  ROSS 

GOVERNOR  OF  WYOMING 

OBIIT  OCTOBER    2,  1924 


HONEST   IN   CONVICTION. 
COURAGEOUS   IN   CONFLICT, 
LOYAL    IN    FRIENDSHIP, 
A   CHRISTIAN    GENTLEMAN. 


HISTORICAL  DEPARTMENT 


QUARTERLY  BULLETIN 


Vol.  2 


Cheyenne,  January   15,   1925 


No.  3 


THE  FUR  TRADERS 

The  history  of  the  settlement  of  Wyo- 
ming begins  with  those  venturesome  ex- 
plorers who  were  in  search  of  furs  to  supply 
the  urgent  demand  in  European  capitals. 
While  they  seldom  settled  permanently  in 
one  place,  they  nevertheless  paved  the  way 
for  the  march  of  civilization  that  followed 
in  their  wake.  As  fur-bearing  animals  de- 
creased in  numbers  it  became  ever  more 
important  that  new  sources  of  fur  supply 
be  discovered.  In  the  search  for  new  trap- 
ping fields  first  came  Sieur  de  la  Verendrye 
ind  his  three  sons,  assisted  by  Pierre  Gau- 
thier  de  Varennes,  pushing  out  from  the 
head  waters  of  the  Missouri  in  search  of  a 
gateway  through  the  mountains.  (1) 

Perhaps  it  was  fortunate  that  De  la  Ver- 
aadrye  failed  in  his  object  and  returned 
lome  after  eleven  years  without  discovering 
i  way  across  the  mountains.  Before  France 
jpuld  make  another  attempt  the  Seven  Years 
War  with  England  left  the  trading  posts  in 
the  hands  of  the  English,  who  left  exploring 
altogether  to  the  fur  companies.  Following 
:he  American  Revolution  the  posts  became 
possessions  of  the  United  States  and  in  1804 
the  government  sent  out  Lewis  and  Clark 
to  explore  the  country  to  the  Northwest, 
including  that  which  lay  in  the  new  Louisi- 
ana Purchase  from  France.  (2) 

Lewis  and  Clark  encountered  trappers  of 
the  Missouri  Fur  Company  from  the  south 
ind  of  the  Hudson  Bay  Company  from  the 
north  but  at  no  time  did  the  expedition 
travel  over  any  of  the  country  now  occupied 
}y  Wyoming  though  they  came  within  fifty- 
Six  miles  of  the  northwest  corner  of  the  state 
ind  heard  of  the  wonders  of  the  Yellowstone 
Park.  They  opened  a  new  country  and 
jlazed  a  path  for  western  progress  and  it  is 
due  to  this  step  in  the  march  of  civilization 
that  we  find  in  Wyoming  a  lake  named  for 
Lewis  and  a  town  and  stream  named  for 
Clark.  From  this  time  on  there  is  more  or 
less  authentic  information  as  to  the  settlers 
ind  traders  of  Wyoming.  There  are  many 
unsubstantiated  reports  of  the  expeditions 
made  into  the  state  across  the  southern  bor- 
der by  early  Spaniards  but  there  are  no 
written  records  of  these  explorers.  Probably 
the  country  was  visited  by  daring  adven- 
turers before  the  time  of  Lewis  and  Clark 
but  history  has  not  yet  proved  how  they 
came  nor  when  they  left.  (3) 

There  is  a  record  of  a  body  of  twenty 
trappers  under  the  leadership  of  Ezekial  Wil- 
liams who  came  into  the  region  now  known 
as  Wyoming  but  they  accomplished  nothing 
of  importance  in  producing  furs  because  they 

(Copy  rig 


were  not  used  to  fighting  their  way  through 
a  hostile  country.  They  encountered  some 
friendly  Crow  Indians  who  treated  them  so 
royally  that  one  of  their  number,  an  Edward 
Rose,  decided  to  remain  with  the  tribe.  He 
afterwards  became  a  chief  and  is  known  in 
history  as  the  first  American  to  take  up  a 
permanent  residence  in  the  Big  Horn  coun- 
try and  as  near  as  can  be  determined  was 
the  first  permanent  American  resident  in 
Wyoming.   (4) 

Among  the  early  trail  breakers  in  this  un- 
traveled  country  were  Wilson  Price  Hunt 
and  Robert  Stuart.  In  1810,  Hunt,  as  a 
member  of  Astor's  Pacific  Fur  Company 
started  westward  on  his  way  to  the  Pacific 
coast  intending  to  develop  a  fur  trade  in  the 
Rocky  mountain  country.  Because  of  Indian 
hostility  he  had  to  go  far  to  the  south  of 
the  Lewis  and  Clark  road  and  in  so  doing 
established  the  first  trail  across  the  state. 
This  trail,  though  not  the  easy  road  across 
the  mountains,  opened  the  way  for  the  great 
American  fur  trade.  The  soldier  followed 
and  stilled  the  country  to  the  point  where 
permanent  settlement  took  place.  (5) 

The  following  year,  a  return  party  under 
Robert  Stuart  started  to  St.  Louis  from  Fort 
Astor,  Oregon.  Upon  reaching  the  western 
boundary  of  Wyoming  a  well  beaten  Indian 
path  was  found  leading  to  the  southeast.  The 
trail  was  not  difficult  to  follow  and  the  party 
headed  toward  the  rift  in  the  mountains  later 
known  as  South  Pass.  The  exact  place  of 
crossing  the  mountains  is  not  known  but  they 
went  as  far  south  as  the  trail  which  soon 
became  famous  as  the  Oregon  Trail.  They 
reached  the  mouth  of  Poison  Spider  creek 
where  it  empties  into  the  North  Platte  some- 
what southwest  of  the  present  city  of  Casper. 
Here  an  early  snow  storm  overtook  them 
and  they  went  into  winter  camp.  They  in- 
tended to  stay  until  spring  and  built  a  warm 
log  cabin,  the  first  building  to  be  erected  in 
Wyoming  by  known  white  men.  They  were 
soon  discovered  by  Indians  and  fearing  an 
attack  they  moved  on  down  the  Platte  and 
reached  St.   Louis  in  the  spring  of  1813.   (6) 

It  should  be  remembered  that  Stuart  led 
his  men  through  a  wilderness  during  the  most 
severe  season  of  the  year.  His  was  the  first 
party  of  Americans  to  traverse  the  valley  of 
the  Sweetwater  and  some  authors  think  it  a 
great  oversight  that  the  stream  does  not  bear 
the  name  of  Stuart.  The  wanderings  and 
explorations  of  these  men  are  closely  asso- 
ciated with  the  settlement  of  Wyoming.  The 
first  explorers  of  the  North  Platte  had  opened 
a  way  which  led  to  the  settling  of  Oregon 
and  California  and  eventually  to  the  scttle- 
ht  192S) 


42 


QUARTERLY  BULLETIN 

Published  by  the  Wyoming  State  Historical 
Department 


State  Historical  Board 

Governor — Mrs.  William  B.   Ross. 
Secretary  of  State — F.  E.  Lucas 
State  Librarian— Flo  La  Chapelle 


State  Historian — Mrs.  Cyrus  Beard 
Secretary  of  the  Board 


Advisory  Board 
Rt.  Rev.  P.  A.  McGovern,  Cheyenne 
Dr.  Grace  R.  Hebard,  Laramie 
Mr.  P.  W.  Jenkins,  Cora 
Mrs.  Willis  M.  Spear,  Sheridan 
Mr.  R.  D.  Hawley,  Douglas 
Miss  Margery  Ross,  Cody 
Mrs.  E.  T.  Raymond,  Newcastle 
Mr.  E.  H.  Fourt,  Lander 


Contents 

The    Fur   Traders Owen 

St.   Peter's  Church   (Sheridan) Bell 

Notes - - ..Surveyor    General 

Ames  Monument - Coutant 

Wm.    Trufant Coutant 

James   Talbot Coutant 

The  Natural  Fort Coutant 

Letters    - Coutant 

Told  at  the  Camp  Fire Ordway 

Necrology  - Historian 

Accessions    Historian 


ment  of  Wyoming  though  the  latter  did  not 
take  place  on  a  very  large  scale  till  nearly 
a  century  later.  (7) 

After  the  trail  through  the  mountains  had 
made  new  trapping  fields  available  men  be- 
came interested  in  gathering  furs.  St.  Louis 
as  the  frontier  town  on  the  border  of  civiliza- 
tion became  the  chief  outfitting  post  of  the 
fur  trade.  Men  with  small  capital  as  well 
as  large  organizations  like  Astor's  made  ex- 
cursions into  the  new  west  and  pursued  the 
perilous   task   of   fur   trapping.    (8) 

The  most  important  of  these  fur  trading 
expeditions  that  concerns  this  state  was  the 
one  made  by  Wm.  Ashley  of  St.  Louis,  who 
saw  an  opportunity  to  enter  the  fur  business 
while  the  Missouri  Fur  Co.  under  Manuel 
Lisa  and  the  Hudson  Bay  Co.  were  compet- 
ing against  each  other.  Ashley's  plan  was 
to  make  friends  with  the  Indians  and  employ 
them  to  trap  in  his  service.  In  1822,  he 
started  with  a  small  company  of  men  for  the 
mountains.  He  established  a  post  on  the 
Yellowstone  as  a  base  for  operations  and  cov- 
ered the  country  far  to  the  southward  in  a 
region  not  yet  touched  by  the  great  fur  com- 
panies. Following  up  the  Big  Horn  as  far 
as  the  Wind  River  Valley,  he  trapped  on  the 


Big  and  Little  Wind  rivers,  Big  Popo  Agie, 
Little  Popo  Agie,  North  Fork  and  Beaver 
creek.  He  returned  to  St.  Louis  for  the  win- 
ter and  came  back  the  next  spring  with  a 
much  larger  force.   (9) 

Ashley  found  the  business  so  profitable  in 
the  Sweetwater  country  that  he  sent  back 
for  men  to  join  him.  Meanwhile  he  reached 
the  Spanish  river,  the  name  of  which  he 
changed  to  Green  river  in  honor  of  one  of 
his  St.  Louis  partners.  Along  the  Green 
river  they  found  beavers  so  tame  that  they 
could  shoot  them  with  a  rifle.  On  one  of 
the  tributaries  they  saw  many  horses  grazing 
in  the  meadows  and  for  this  reason  named 
the   stream   Horse  creek.    (10) 

Among  other  members  of  Ashley's  organ- 
ization were  Andrew  Henry,  Jediah  S.  Smith, 
Wm.  Sublette,  Milton  Sublette,  David  E. 
Jackson,  Robert  Campbell,  James  Bridger, 
Etienne  Provost,  Fitzpatrick  and  many  men 
whose  names  became  famous  in  the  history 
of  the  west.  One  of  these  men  led  a  party 
through  a  rift  in  the  mountains  later  known 
as  South  Pass.  Although  easy  of  passage, 
its  ascent  and  descent  being  so  gradual  as  to 
be  hardly  perceptible,  the  significance  of  this 
gateway  on  a  road  to  the  west  was  one  of 
vital  importance  because  it  unlocked  the 
mountains  that  had  been  an  arresting  barrier 
until  that  time.  From  South  Pass  the  little 
band  journeyed  down  the  Big  Sandy  to  its 
junction  with  the  Green  river,  a  site  that  was 
soon  to  become  famous  as  the  Green  river 
rendezvous.    (11) 

General  Ashley  completely  revolutionized 
the  methods  of  trapping.  Before  his  time  the 
trappers  had  journeyed  in  canoes  and  the 
trapping  fields  lay  along  streams  that  could 
carry  furs  by  boat  to  St.  Louis.  Ashley  had 
to  mount  his  men  on  horseback  and  he  se- 
lected only  good  riders  and  expert  rifle  shots. 
"These  trappers  soon  became  as  expert  in 
horsemanship  as  the  redman,  and  being  bet- 
ter armed,  could  outfight  the  Indian,  yet  in 
spite  of  the  advantage  the  Indian  found 
means  to  wage  a  war  almost  to  extermina- 
tion on  the  trappers.  The  savage  learned 
to  know  the  routes  as  well  as  the  resorts 
of  the  white  man  on  horseback  and  they 
made  war  by  waylaying  them  on  their  jour- 
ney. They  hovered  about  their  camps  and 
made  life  with  them  a  perpetual  warfare.  This, 
in  time  resulted  in  greatly  decimating  the 
ranks  of  the  trappers."  It  is  thought  that 
three-fifths  of  the  trappers  in  Wyoming  were 
killed  by  Indians,  and  the  most  of  them  were 
cut  off  while  examining  their  traps.  Yet  the 
fascination  of  the  mountain  life  kept  the 
ranks  recruited  until  the  streams  were  de- 
pleted of  fur  bearing  animals.   (12) 

In  1826,  Ashley  sold  out  his  interests  in 
the  fur  business  to  Captain  Sublette  who  was 
head  of  an  organization  soon  to  become 
known  as  the  Rocky  Mountain  Fur  Co.  Un- 
der this  new  organization  the  fur  business 
continued  to  grow  by  leaps  and  bounds  and 
the  following  year  four  hundred  trappers  had 
entered  Wyoming  to  gather  furs.  Their  sup- 
plies were  hauled  in  by  wagon  and  distribut- 
ed at  the  rendezvous  which  took  place  every 
summer.  These  wagons  were  drawn  by 
mules  and  the  load  for  each  vehicle  was  1,800 


43 


pounds.  These  were  the  first  wagons  brought 
into  Wyoming  and  they  followed  the  North 
Platte  and  the  Sweetwater  but  did  not  cross 
the  continental  divide.  The  Indians  looked 
upon  this  wagon  train  as  quite  beyond  their 
comprehension  and  feared  they  would  even- 
tually be  forced  to  vacate.  The  Blackfeet, 
Sioux  and  Cheyennes  became  less  friendly 
and  Sublette  was  forced  to  unite  for  protec- 
tion with  the  American  Fur  Co.  whose  activi- 
ties had  brought  them  into  the  field.  These 
two  companies  were  united  only  for  their 
ow  n  safety  and  the}''  competed  against  each 
other  for  furs.   ( 13) 

The  Rockv  Mountain  fur  trappers  obtained 
$175,000  worth  of  furs  in  one  year,  1832.  A 
large  part  of  them  was  taken  from  the  coun- 
try now  known  as  Wyoming  but  the  fur 
business  was  on  the  decline.  It  was  now- 
realized  that  the  immense  fortunes  of  the 
business  were  a  thing  of  the  past.  The  Rocky 
Mountain  Fur  Co.  sold  out  to  their  old  rivals 
and  the  trapping  henceforth  was  carried  on 
by  the  American  Fur  Co.  and  a  few  free 
trappers.    (14) 

To  the  trappers  belong  the  credit  of  hav- 
ing first  made  homes  in  Wyoming.  Many 
of  the  men  who  came  out  with  Ashley,  Sub- 
lette and  later  under  Bonneville  conceived  the 
ifrtafof  making  the  mountains  their  abiding 
place.  These  pioneers  first  broke  the  way 
through  a  wilderness  where  everything  was 
against  them.  They  traveled  desolate  moun- 
tains and  barren  prairies  that  showed  no 
signs  of  habitation  except  that  of  the  savages. 
They  beheld  ranges  of  mountains  in  front  of 
them  but  knew  nothing  of  their  defiles  or 
how  to  cross  them.  Those  who  settled  down 
to  make  homes  in  the  wilderness  far  from 
civilization  were  the  brave  and  adventurous 
ones.  Many  of  them  took  Indian  wives 
which  protected  them  from  that  particular 
tribe  to  which  their  wives  belonged.  For 
the  must  part  they  lived  honorably  with  their 
native  women.  The  surroundings  prohibited 
any  chance  of  education  but  education  was 
not  the  common  thing  even  in  the  states.  (15) 

Following  in  the  tracks  of  the  fur  traders 
came  other  persons  into  the  west.  Captain 
Bonneville  had  long  been  fascinated  by  the 
work  of  fur  trapping  and  decided  to  visit  the 
new  regions  with  the  double  purpose  of  gath- 
ering furs  and  of  mapping  the  country 
through  which  he  went.  On  May  1,  1832, 
he  started  from  Fort  Osage  on  the  Missouri 
and  led  a  band  of  110  experienced  hunters 
and  trappers  into  the  region  now  known  as 
Wyoming.  Because  the  fur  business  was  on 
the  wane  and  because  the  American  Fur  Co. 
was  too  powerful  and  experienced  an  organ- 
ization to  compete  with,  he  did  not  make  any 
money  from  furs.  He  gained  much  informa- 
tion, augmenting  our  store  of  geographical 
knowledge  that  in  the  end  helped  to  push 
settlement  further  westward.  The  data  he 
collected  is  considered  fairly  accurate  for  the 
means  employed  in  those  days;  his  maps 
were  the  first  to  give  even  the  roughest  ap- 
j  proximation  of  the  principal  geographical 
|  features  of  this  region.   (16) 

Bonneville  proved  that  a  wagon  train  could 
reach  to  the  crest  of  the  Rockies  and  started 
a   procession   of   settlement   wagons   into   the 


west.  The  fort  he  built  in  Wyoming,  Fort 
Nonsense,  was  not  a  permanent  settlement 
but  it  proved  a  guide  beacon  for  other  ad- 
venturers, some  of  whom  tarried  by  the  way 
and  became  the  markers  of  the  Oregon 
Trail.   (17) 

In  1843,  John  Fremont,  a  man  whose  past 
training  particularly  adapted  him  for  the  job 
of  exploring  the  west,  set  out  westward  to 
prepare  maps  for  the  government.  Five 
times  he  made  a  journey  into  the  new  coun- 
try and  came  back  with  much  needed  infor- 
mation. He  possessed  the  genius  of  an  ex- 
plorer and  gave  to  the  world  a  comprehensive 
knowledge  of  things  as  they  were  at  that 
time.  By  means  of  his  written  reports, 
which  were  published  by  the  government, 
the  masses  of  the  people  were  greatly  inter- 
ested by  the  messages,  the  cloud  of  mystery 
which  had  covered  mountain  and  plain  of 
Wyoming  was  cleared  away  and  the  locality 
was  given  its  proper  place  on  the  map  of  the 
west.  As  a  direct  result  of  these  printed 
pamphlets  which  the  government  distributed, 
many  immigrants  sought  homes  near  and  be- 
yond the  Rockies.  Into  the  hands  of  Brig- 
ham  Young  came  this  information  which  was 
largely  responsible  for  his  consequent  selec- 
tion of  Utah  for  a  home  for  his  adherents. 
These  followers  soon  spread  back  into  west- 
ern Wyoming  and  a  settlement  was  begun 
in  the  neighborhood  of  Fort  Bridger.   (18) 

Ashley  had  made  a  fortune  on  the  head- 
waters of  the  Platte  river  and  those  streams 
just  beyond.  The  American  Fur  Co.  then 
drew  the  attention  of  eastern  adventurers 
who  started  westward.  Bonneville,  following 
along  the  Platte  with  his  creeking  wagons, 
helped  to  cut  a  deeper  print  in  the  road  that 
the  sands  could  not  soon  efface.  The  numer- 
ous passages  including  those  made  by  the 
missionaries  and  by  Fremont,  plainly  marked 
a  highway  between  east  and  west.  When 
Santa  Anna  prohibited  commercial  relations 
with  our  country  and  the  Mexican  govern- 
ment became  very  hostile,  the  Santa  Fe  road 
could  no  longer  serve  its  purpose.  The  north- 
ern trail  became  a  necessity.  By  the  middle 
of  the  century  so  many  people  had  travelled 
the  trail  that  the  Indians  called  it  "The  Great 
Medicine  Road  of  the  Whites."  Because  it 
was  the  most  direct  way  to  Oregon  the  road 
is  usually  called  the  Oregon  Trail.  (19) 

Since  the  trail  was  a  long  one  and  tra- 
versed a  barren  country  for  great  distances 
it  was  essential  that  posts  be  established  at 
certain  intervals  along  the  way  as  had  been 
recommended  by  Whitman,  the  missionary, 
and  by  Fremont,  the  soldier.  Already  there 
had  grown  up  an  old  fur  trading  post  at  Fort 
Laramie  and  this  old  fort  eventually  became 
the  most  famous  fort  in  the  history  of  Wyo- 
ming settlement.  Long  before  the  white  men 
had  attempted  colonization  in  this  locality  the 
whole  section  was  a  grand  hunting  ground 
for  several  tribes  of  Indians.  In  the  year, 
1834,  two  men,  Wm,  Sublette  and  Robert 
Campbell,  trapping  in  that  locality,  found  it 
necessary  to  build  some  kind  of  protection 
against  roaming  bands  of  vagabond  Indians 
that  stole  everything  in  sight  along  the  Platte 
river.  They  therefore  erected  in  that  year 
upon  the  site  of  Fort  Laramie  a  square  stock- 


44 


ade,  fifteen  feet  high  with  a  number  of  small 
houses  inside  for  themselves  and  employees. 
In  1835  these  two  men  sold  out  to  Milton 
Sublette,  James  Bridger  and  three  other  trap- 
pers who  a  short  time  afterwards  went  into 
partnership  with  the  American  Fur  Co.     (20) 

The  American  Fur  Co.,  in  1832,  in  order  to 
extend  their  business  and  make  it  as  profit- 
aide  as  possible  decided  to  organize  the  In- 
dians to  work  for  furs  and  chose  the  fort  for 
a  central  post.  They  accordingly  sent  Kep- 
lin  and  Sabille  to  Bear  Butte  and  the  Black 
Hills  of  Dakota  to  persuade  the  Sioux  In- 
dians to  come  over  and  hunt  their  game  and 
live  in  the  vicinity  of  the  fort.  The  am- 
bassadors returned  with  one  hundred  lodges 
of  the  Ogallala  Sioux  under  the  Chief,  Bull 
Bear.  This  was  the  first  appearance  of  the 
Sioux  nation  in  that  portion  of  the  country. 
These  Indians  were  well  impressed  with  the 
hunting  ground  and  sent  back  for  more  of 
their  tribe.  After  becoming  established  near 
Fort  Laramie  they  expanded  northwest  into 
that  fertile  hunting  ground  in  northern  Wyo- 
ming and  into  the  Big  Horn  Basin.  They 
soon  overran  the  country  and  drove  away 
the  Cheyennes,  Pawnees  and  Crows  and  later 
were  the  most  hostile  Indians  with  whom  the 
soldiers  had  to  deal. (2D 

The  people  who  lived  inside  the  fort  called 
it  Fort  John  but  the  name  was  never  popular. 
The  original  fort  began  to  rot  in  1836  and 
the  American  Fur  Co.  reconstructed  it  at  a 
cost  of  ten  thousand  dollars.  The  descrip- 
tions of  the  old  fort  are  based  on  the  recon- 
structed buildings  made  by  the  Fur  Co.  In 
many  ways  it  was  similar  to  the  old  English 
medieval  castles,  being  built  for  defense  as 
well  as  for  a  store  house.  It  was  a  quad- 
rangular structure  of  large,  heavy,  sundried 
bricks  or  adobes  built  after  the  fashion  of 
the  Mexicans.  The  walls,  about  fifteen  feet 
high,  were  surmounted  by  a  wooden  palisade 
forming  portions  of  outer  walls  of  houses 
which  faced  and  entriely  surrounded  a  yard 
one  hundred  and  fifty  feet  square.  The  doors 
and  windows  of  each  apartment  opened  on 
the  inside.  Directly  opposite  each  other  and 
midway  of  the  wall  were  two  entrances,  one 
of  which  was  a  large  public  entrance;  the 
other  a  smaller  and  more  private  one,  a  sort 
of  postern  gate.  Over  the  great  entrance 
was  a  square  tower  with  loop  holes  built  of 
adobe.  At  two  corners  directly  opposite  each 
other  were  built  large  square  bastions  so 
arranged  that  riflemen  inside  could  cover  the 
four  walls  of  the  enclosure.   (2) 

In  1849  the  American  Fur  Co.  sold  this 
old  fort  to  the  government  for  $5,000.  After 
this  there  was  a  garrison  continually  at  the 
fort  for  the  Indian  danger  was  drawing  ever 
nearer  and  the  government  wished  to  protect 
the  emigrants  along  the  Oregon  Trail.  Soon 
a  large  number  of  additions  were  made  to 
the  buildings  of  the  post.  One  was  a  two 
story  structure  known  as  "Bedlam,"  con- 
structed in  the  early  days  for  officers'  quar- 
ters. It  cost  the  government  the  very  neat 
sum  of  $60,000.  Every  stick  of  timber  in  it 
was  hauled  by  wagon  from  Fort  Leaven- 
worth, Kansas,  a  distance  of  eight  hundred 
miles.   (23) 

The  second  permanent  settlement  made  in 


Wyoming  was  at  Fort  Bridger  where  a  fur 
trading  post  had  been  established  by  James 
Bridger  in  1842.  Colonel  Brackett  writes  of 
this  old  fort  as  follows:  "Here  the  old  moun- 
taineer lived  in  a  sort  of  barbaric  pomp,  sur- 
rounded by  the  dusky  children  of  the  moun- 
tains, owning  considerable  flocks  and  herds, 
and  being  in  fact  a  frontier  baron.  Here  he 
lived  until  long  after  the  advent  of  the  Mor- 
mons and  in  1854  sold  his  Mexican  grant  of 
thirty  miles  of  land  including  cabins  to  them 
for  $8,000.  The  deeds  of  this  property  are 
now  in  the  possession  of  the  dignitaries  at 
Salt  Lake  City."  The  Mormons  then  made 
improvements  to  the  sum  of  another  $8,000 
and  made  it  the  county  seat  of  Green  River 
Utah  of  which  it  was  then  a  part.  When 
Colonel  Albert  Sidney  Johnston  arrived  in 
1857  to  invade  Salt  Lake  Valley  the  Mormons 
destroyed  the  fort  as  they  retreated  before 
him.  In  1858  the  fort  was  rebuilt,  this  time 
made  of  logs  and  neatly  whitewashed.  It  was 
near  Fort  Bridger  that  Uncle  Jack  Robinson 
resided;  it  was  he  who  rendered  such  assist- 
ance to  the  emigrants  on  the  way  to  Califor- 
nia, helping  them  to  repair  their  worn  equip- 
ment. He  was  a  personal  friend  of  Bridget" 
and  is  known  in  Wyoming  history  as  the 
oldest  settler  in  the  territory,  having  lived 
there  since   1832.    (24) 

The  history  of  Fort  Laramie  and  Fort 
Bridger  deals  with  the  first  permanent  colon- 
ization in  the  country  now  known  as  Wyo- 
ming. Stuart  had  built  a  cabin  for  protec- 
tion from  the  winter,  years  before,  but  had 
immediately  passed  on.  Many  fur  traders 
spent  a  large  part  of  their  lives  in  the  coun- 
try and  a  few  took  up  their  permanent  abode 
with  the  Indians  but  these  two  forts  were 
land-marks  on  the  old  Oregon  Trail  and  play 
an  important  part  in  the  development  of  the 
west  for  they  remained  as  guarding  posts  fori 
the  emigrants  along  the  road,  the  only  means 
of  armed  protection  within  many  miles.   (25) 

It  may  be  wondered  why  Wyoming  so  long 
remained  a  wilderness  while  the  road  of  emi- 
gration led  directly  through  the  region.  The 
few  who  idled  along  the  way  did  not  greatly 
add  to  the  population.  It  will  be  noticed 
that  the  easy  way  across  the  mountains  was 
the  most  desolate  part  of  the  west  but  had! 
nature  made  the  region  a  little  further  north 
easy  of  access,  Wyoming  would  have  proved 
worthy  of  attention   long  before   it   did.    (26) 

The  Indian  liked  the  country  north  of  the; 
Oregon  Trail  and  for  it  was  willing  to  sacri- 
fice anything.  The  discovery  of  gold  in  Mon- 
tana was  the  cause  of  a  big  movement  in  that 
direction  and  by  1865  the  population  had 
reached  120,000.  This  large  number  of  peo- 
ple had  to  be  furnished  with  supplies  from 
outside  the  territory  and  the  Bozeman  Trail 
marked  the  quickest  way  to  get  there.  But 
the  magnitude  of  the  caravans  crossing  Wyo- 
ming enraged  the  Indians  to  hostile  activity, 
for  penetration  of  their  land  meant  destruc- 
tion of  the  wild  game  and  control  by  the 
whites.   (27) 

Without    getting    the    Indians'    consent    to 
cross  the  territory,  the  United  States  govern- 
ment proceeded  to  establish  three  forts  along! 
the   Bozeman   road.      While   Fort    Reno   was 
being  enlarged.   Red    Cloud   gave   notice   that 


45 


any  one  would  be  killed  who  went  further 
north,  as  building  of  forts  in  the  Powder 
River  country  was  in  violation  of  an  agree- 
ment existing  between  the  government  and 
the  Indians.  However,  the  army  went  on 
and  built  an  unusually  line  post,  Fort  Phil 
Kearney,  on  the  Piney,  northwest  of  Buf- 
falo, in  Johnson  county.  From  the  time  of 
the  first  survey  of  the  land,  the  fortification 
was  in  a  constant  state  of  siege,  the  Indians 
looking  upon  the  structure  as  a  sign  of  usur- 
pation. The  Fetterman  massacre  followed 
and  the  government  awoke  to  the  fact  that 
the  army  was  fighting  a  brave  and  desperate 
enemy,  formidable  beyond  numbers,  who  was 
trying  to  outdo  by  cunning  all  the  advantages 
the  white  man  possessed  by  intelligence  and 
better  arms.    (28) 

The  treaty  of  Fort  Laramie  followed 
wherein  the  United  States  government  agreed 
to  withdraw  from  the  three  forts  along  the 
Bozeman  road  and  set  apart  the  great  Sioux 
reservation  of  22,000,000  acres.  The  govern- 
ment agreed  that  the  country  north  of  the 
North  Platte  and  east  of  the  summits  of  the 
Big  Horns  should  be  unceeded  territory  and 
that  no  white  person  should  be  allowed  to 
settle  without  the  consent  of  the  Indians.  (29) 

The  Indians  were  the  main  cause  of  the 
tartly  development  of  that  part  of  Wyoming 
lying  north  of  the  North  Platte  river.  For 
years  after  the  Fetterman  massacre  the  emi- 
grants sought  a  more  safe  route  to  Montana, 
though  it  was  a  much  longer  road.  After 
the  summer  of  1868  there  was  no  travel  over 
the  Bozeman  trail  between  the  Platte  and 
the  Big  Horn  river  until  Crook's  expedition 
in  1876,  except  by  one  or  two  small  mining 
expeditions  going  to  and  from  the  Black 
Hills  in  Montana.  From  1868  to  1876,  no 
traffic  was  carried  on  north  of  the  Platte. 
By  the  treaty  no  white  man  was  allowed  to 
enter  the  territory  north  of  the  river.   (30) 

Neither  the  Indians  nor  the  white  men  rig- 
idly enforced  the  terms  of  the  treaty.  The 
red  man  instead  of  sticking  to  the  reserva- 
tion meandered  at  will  to  the  south,  stealing 
the  white  man's  cattle  and  milch  cows.  By 
1874  seekers  of  gold  and  a  home  pushed  out 
into  the  forbidden  country  and  started  that 
larger  movement  which  resulted  in  Custer's 
last  battle.    (31) 

Thus  we  see  certain  forces  at  work  which 
led  to  the  beginning  of  settlement  in  Wyo- 
ming. After  the  map-makers  had  advertised 
the  country,  the  Oregon  trail  brought  the 
emigrants  who  mostly  passed  on  through  the 
state  but  it  also  brought  the  army  forts 
which  became  the  first  permanent  settle- 
ments. The  first  settlement  was  at -the  east- 
ern end  of  the  territory  and  the  second  one 
at  the  opposite  end  with  practically  none  in 
between.  Dry  farming  was  not  then  de- 
veloped to  the  point  where  crops  could  be 
raised  on  fifteen  inches  of  rainfall  and  irriga- 
tion had  not  developed  extensively.  The 
country  around  the  Bozeman  road  was  adapt- 
ed to  settlement  but  the  Indian's  hold  on  the 
region  could  not  be  broken  and  Wyoming 
had  to  wait  several  decades  before  the  vast 
resources  could  be  brought  to  the  attention 
of  the  public.   (32) 

(Signed)     CLYDE  MEEHAN   OWENS. 


Bibliography. 

( 1  )  Coutant,  History  of  Wyoming,  Vol. 
I,  pages  35  and  36. 

(2)  Ibid.,  page  40.  See  also  Bancroft, 
History  of  Wyoming,  page  678. 

(3)  G.  A.  Dorsey,  An  Aboriginal  Quartz- 
ite  Quarry  in  Eastern  Wyoming.  Anthro- 
pological series,  Publication  51,  Vol.  II,  No. 
4,  page  237. 

(4)  Coutant,  History  of  Wyoming,  Vol. 
I,  pages  70-72. 

(5)  Hebard,  Marking  the  Oregon  Trail; 
page  6;  a  pamphlet  in  Archives.  Hebard, 
History  of  Wyoming,  page  36. 

6)      Ibid.,  page  7;  Oregon  Trail. 

(7)  Coutant,  History  of  Wyoming,  Vol. 
I,  page  118. 

(8)  Ibid.,  page  119. 

(9)  Col.  A.  G.  Brackett,  First  Settle- 
ments; found  in  Wyoming  Historical  Col- 
lections of  1897,  page  65. 

(10)  Coutant,  Historv  of  Wyoming,  Vol. 
I,  page  123-124. 

(11)  A.  G.  Brackett,  First  Settlements; 
found  in  Wvoming  Historical  Collections  of 
1897,  page  66. 

(12)  Coutant,  History  of  Wyoming,  Vol. 
I,  page  128. 

(13)  Ibid.,  page  130-132.  See  also  A.  G. 
Brackett,  First  Settlements;  found  in  Wvo- 
ming Historical  Collections  of  1897,  page  26. 

(14)  Ibid.,  page  147. 

(15)  Ibid.,  page  188.  See  also  Irving, 
Bonneville,  page  34. 

(16)  A.  C.  Veatch,  Coal  and  Oil;  found 
in  U.  S.  Geol.  Survey,  Professional  paper 
No.  56,  page  9;  a  booklet.  See  also  Coutant, 
Vol.   I,  page  153. 

(17)  Brackett,  First  Settlements;  found 
in  Historical  Collections  of  1897,  page  67. 
See  also  Hebard,  Oregon  Trail,  page  23; 
pamphlet. 

(18)  Hebard.  Marking  the  Oregon  Trail, 
page  5;  a  pamphlet  issued  by  the  D.  A.  R. 
See  also  Hebard  and  Brininstool,  The  Boze- 
man Trail,  Vol.  I,  page  43,  44. 

(19)  Hebard  and  Brininstool,  The  Boze- 
man  Trail,  Vol.   I,  page  33. 

(20)  W.  H.  Powell,  Fort  Laramie;  found 
in  Wyoming  Historical  Collections  of  1897, 
page  176. 

(21)  Ibid.,  page  177. 

{22)  A.  G.  Brackett,  Fort  Laramie;  found 
in  Wyoming  Historical  Collections  of  1897, 
page  67. 

(23)  W  H.  Powell,  Fort  Laramie;  found 
in  Wyoming  Historical  Collections  of  1897, 
page  177. 

(24)  Brackett,  First  Settlements;  found 
in  Wyo.  Hist.  Coll.  of  1897,  page  68. 

(25)  Ibid.,  page  68.  69. 

(26)  Parrish,  The  Great  Plains,  page  299. 

(27)  Hebard  and  Brinistool,  The  Boze- 
man Trail,  Vol.  I,  page  220.  See  also  Bart- 
lett,   History  of  Wyoming,  Vol.   I,  page  282. 

(28)  Hebard,  Marking  the  Bozeman 
Trail,  pages  39  and  40;  a  pamphlet  in  ar- 
chives, Wyoming  Material,  Vol.   III. 

(29)  Doane  Robinson,  History  of  the 
Sioux  Indians;  found  in  Dept.  of  Hist.,  Coll. 
of  South  Dakota,  Vol.  II,  pages  386  and  387. 

(30)  John   Huntoom  a  letter  dated   Aug. 


46 


5,    1920;    in    Hebard    and    Brininstool,    The 
Bozeman  Trail,  Vol.   II,  page  258. 

(31)  Thayer,  Governor's  Message  to 
Fourth   Legislative  Assembly,  1875,  page  22. 

(32)  Hebard,  Marking  the  Bozeman  Trail, 
page  39.  Brackett,  First  Settlements;  found 
in  Wvo.  Hist.,  Coll.  of  1897,  page  72. 


ST.  PETER'S  CHURCH 
Rev.  A.  W.  Bell,  Rector 

The  first  service  of  the  Episcopal  Church 
was  held  in  Sheridan  by  the  Rev.  John  E. 
Sulger,  then  archdeacon  of  Wyoming  and 
Idaho,  on  April  22nd,  1891.  After  several 
visits  of  the  Right  Rev.  Ethelbert  Talbot, 
D.  D.,  Bishop  of  Wyoming  and  Idaho,  and 
Archdeacon  Sulger,  lots  were  bought  on 
Loucks  street  and  the  present  building  began. 
The  money  was  collected  by  Rev.  John  Sul- 
ger with  the  following  gentlemen  as  an  ad- 
visory committee  who  helped  him  in  every 
way.  Messrs.  Horace  Alger,  M.  A.  Upton, 
and  George  L.  Smith.  The  foundation  stone 
was  laid  by  Bishop  Talbot  in  1894,  before  the 
building  was  completed  the  Rev.  Arnold  Lut- 
ton  was  appointed  by  the  Bishop  as  mis- 
sionary in  charge.  He  remained  till  1896 
when  he  was  succeeded  by  Rev.  Thos.  H. 
Johnston.  At  the  beginning  of  1898  the  Gen- 
eral convention  of  the  Episcopal  Church,  al- 
tered the  boundaries  of  the  jurisdiction  by 
creating  a  new  diocese  which  included  half 
the  diocese  of  Wyoming  and  the  whole  of  the 
diocese  of  the  Platte  (extending  from  Sher- 
idan, Wyoming,  to  Kearney,  Nebraska)  and 
placing  all  under  the  administration  of  the 
former  Bishop  of  the  Platte,  the  Right  Rev. 
Anson.  R.  Graves,  D.  D.,  naming  this  new 
jurisdiction,  the  Diocese  of  Laramie.  Bishop 
Talbot  was  transferred  to  the  east  and  made 
Bishop  of  Central  Pennsylvania,  under  whom 
eventually  the  Rev.  Mr.  Johnston  got  ap- 
pointment. The  Church  remained  vacant  for 
some  time,  when  at  the  end  of  April,  1899, 
the  Rev.  A.  W.  Bell  was  appointed  by  Bishop 
Graves  as  priest-in-charge.  The  church  had 
been  closed  for  some  time,  a  heavy  debt  rest- 
ed on  the  building,  interest  in  church  affairs 
was  at  a  low  ebb  and  a  somewhat  discourag- 
ing outlook  confronted  him,  but  by  dint  of 
perseverance  and  the  noble  help  of  the  wo- 
men of  the  Ladies  Guild,  seconded  by  the 
Bishop  as  well  as  the  men  of  the  Church  and 
others  the  debt  has  been  totally  wiped  out, 
almost  enough  has  been  raised  to  entirely 
pay  for  the  present  part  of  the  neat  Rectory 
which  has  been  built.  A  Rector's  study  has 
been  built  on  to  the  church  and  paid  for. 
The  children  of  the  Sunday  school  made  a 
handsome  offering  at  Easter  to  entirely  pay 
for  the  coat  of  paint  which  has  lately  en- 
hanced the  beauty  of  the  church  building. 
The  whole  of  the  valuable  property  has  been 
surrounded  by  a  neat  fence  and  when  the 
remainder  of  the  Rectory  is  built  it  will  be 
one  of  the  best  in  the  city. 

The  spiritual  life  of  the  church  has  been 
growing  side  by  side  with  the  material.  The 
Sunday  School  has  trebled  its  numbers.  Many 
members  have  been  added  to  the  church  by 
baptism. 

On   November  12th,   1901,  the   Rector  pre- 


sented to  the  Bishop  for  confirmation  a  class 
of  1 1  adult  candidates,  men  and  women  of 
high  intelligence  and  respectability.  Easter, 
1902,  Rev.  Mr.  Bell  completes  his  third  year 
as  Rector  of  this  comparatively  new  and 
growing  parish  and  on  that  day  the  small, 
remaining  debt  on  the  Rectory  will  be  wiped 
out.  Thus  leaving  the  entire  property  free 
from   all   incumbrance. 


SURVEYOR  GENERAL'S  NOTES 

The  following  records  are  furnished  from 
the  manuscripts  of  the  Surveyor  General's 
office  by  the  courtesy  of  Clyde  W.  Atherly, 
Surveyor  General: 

Surveyor  General's  Office, 
Cheyenne,   Wyoming, 
September  29th,  1870. 
Major   General  C.   C.   Augur, 
Commanding  Department,  Platte, 

Omaha,  Nebraska. 
Sir:— 

I  have  the  honor  to  state  that  I  have  con- 
tracted with  N.  P.  Cook,  Department  Sur- 
veyor to  run  a  Standard  Line  from  the  West- 
ern face  of  the  Medicine  Bow  Mountains, 
West  to  the  Western  boundary  of  Wyoming 
Territory,  near  to  Evanston.  The  line  com- 
mences 12  or  15  miles  south  of  Elk  Moun- 
tain and  will  cross  the  Platte  and  the  moun- 
tains south  of  Rawlins  and  continue  south 
of  the  railroad  until  it  reaches  Carter  on 
Bridger  Station. 

It  is  an  important  line  and  will  serve  as 
a  base  for  my  surveyors  along  the  Union 
Pacific  Railroad  and  I  wish  to  finish  it  this 
fall. 

Mr.  Cook  is  unwilling  to  enter  the  field 
without  military  protection — at  least  as  far  as 
Green  River  fearing  the  strolling  bands  of 
Arapahoes  which  are  said  to  infest  the  moun- 
tains along  this  line,  he  prefers  infantry  and 
about  20  men,  if  it  be  practicable  I  hope  it 
will  meet  with  approbation  to  furnish  this 
escort  from  either  Fort  Sanders  or  Fort 
Steele. 

I   am   sir. 

Your  Obedient  Servant, 
SILAS  REED, 
Survevor   General. 


Forts   1870 

There  are  seven  of  these  in  this  Territory:* 
Fort  Russell,  Laramie,  Fetterman,  Sanders, 
Steele,  Bridger  and  Brown,  the  last  being 
located  near  the  Sweetwater  Mines,  for  the 
better  protection  of  that  valuable  mining  dis- 
trict. 

Fort  Laramie  was  founded  by  Mr.  Robert 
Campbell  (now  Indian  Commissioner)  and 
Mr.  Sublette,  both  of  St.  Louis,  and  who 
were  among  the  most  enterprising  fur-traders 
of  early  days. 

Indians 

The  Utes  on  our  southern  border  and  the 
Shoshones  (or  Snakes)  on  our  western  bor- 
der are  supposed  to  be  friendly  and  receive 
yearly  presents.  The  Snakes  are  supposed 
to  be  rightful  occupants  of  the  Wind  River 
Valley,  but  they  are  about  as  unsafe  there 
as    the    miners    would    be;    roving    bands    of 


47 


Cheyennes  and  Arapahoes  drive  them  off  and 
were  the  ones  who  committed  the  massacre 
near  the  mines  early  this  summer.  These 
Indians  are  more  warlike  and  troublesome 
than  the  Sioux  but  it  is  hoped  the  present 
policy  of  the  Government  may  restrain  them 
better  than  heretofore. 

Red  Cloud  and  his  bands  claim  all  North- 
east Wyoming — north  of  the  Platte  and  east 
of  the  Big  Horn  Rivers.  Red  Cloud  him- 
self is  believed  to  desire  peace,  but  some  of 
his  young  braves  are  not  easily  restrained 
and  pant  for  war.  The  presents  handed  over 
to  Red  Cloud  at  this  time  by  Messrs.  Camp- 
bell and  Brunot  have  pleased  them  (except 
in  receiving  ammunition)  and  may  keep  them 
quiet  until  next  spring. 

If  they  obtain  a  better  reservation  (say 
near  the  Black  Hills  of  Cheyenne  River)  and 
are  allowed  traders  in  whom  they  have  con- 
fidence they  may  possibly  be  reformed  into 
peaceable  Indians.  But  the  treachery  of  wild 
Indians  is  almost  past  finding  out  and  the 
pioneers  put  about  same  trust  in  them  that 
thev  do  in  rattlesnakes. 


Chinese 

September  3rd,   1870. 

The  Department  of  Immigration  has 
bfought  some  of  these  to  Wyoming  and  they 
appear  to  thrive  as  well  as  if  indigenous. 
They  have  done  their  part  in  opening  the 
great  American  thoroughfare  to  their  native 
country,  and  will  aid  in  building  many  more 
railroads  in  the  Rocky  Mountain  regions. 
The  Union  Pacific  Railroad  has  placed  them 
along  the  western  divisions  to  keep  up  track 
repairs   and   they   do   the   work   well. 

More  will  follow  in  time  and  relieve  other 
men,  who  are  needed  in  the  mines  and  where- 
ever  else  brain  has  claim  over  muscle.  This 
element  will  continue  to  come  as  the  demand 
requires.  It  does  so  in  accordance  with  the 
same  laws  that  govern  trade,  finances  and 
commerce  and  should  not  be  recklessly  re- 
strained. The  western  part  of  the  continent 
cannot  do  without  them,  or  at  least  will  do 
better  with  them. 


Game.     Wild  Animals 

The  buffalos  are  rapidly  disappearing  in 
this  territory  what  remain  are  principally  to 
be  found  in  the  northern  part,  along  the  Pow- 
der, Tongue,  Big  Horn  and  Yellowstone 
rivers. 

The  anxiety  that  Red  Cloud  and  his  people 
manifested  lately  at  Fort  Laramie  for  am- 
munition to  kill  small  game  they  explained 
by  affirming  that  buffalos  are  becoming  quite 
scarce  in  their  hunting  grounds.  Dr.  Hay- 
dens  party  found  and  killed  some  along  the 
Sweetwater  this  summer  but  they  were  not 
plenty  there. 

Elk  are  quite  numerous  in  the  northern 
part  of  the  Territory  but  not  as  plentiful  in 
the  southern  part.  It  is  more  particularly  in 
the  vicinity  of  the  railroad  that  scarcity  of 
game  is  becoming  apparent,  which  is  of 
course  to  be  expected.  In  the  remoter  parts 
of  the  Territory  it  is  apt  to  remain  plentiful 
for  many  years.  In  the  timber  portion  of 
the  mountains  bears  abound  to  a  consider- 
able  extent. 


Antelopes  are  abundant;  the  plains  in  some 
places  seem  alive  with  them  and  they  are 
frequently  seen  from  the  cars  in  passing 
along.  Hunters  kill  them  in  great  numbers, 
supplying  our  markets  with  a  very  cheap  and 
most  delicious  meat. 

Wolves  are  not  as  plenty  as  would  be  ex- 
pected and  do  not  annoy  the  shepherds  to 
any  great  extent. 

Beaver  and  other  fur-animals  arc  quite 
plentiful  in  and  about  the  streams  that  come 
down  from  the  mountains,  and  considerable 
trapping  is  carried  on  with  good  profit  to  the 
trappers. 

You  make  inquiry  in  reference  to  tea  and 
silk  culture.  These  have  not  been  tried  here 
but  it  is  probable  that  the  higher  altitude 
would  lie  unfavorable  for  them. 

Experiments  will  be  made  next  season  with 
the  maple,  elm,  etc.,  shade  trees,  also  with 
grapes,  currants  and  raspberries,  blackberries, 
etc.  Apples  can  be  raised  in  well  protected 
localities,  though  frosts  are  sometimes  heavy 
in  August  as  severe  as  in  October  and  No- 
vember. 


Surveyor    General's    Office, 
Cheyenne,   Wyoming, 
October  4th,  1870. 
Captain   Coats, 
Fort   Sanders, 
Wyoming  Territory. 
Sir:— 

Mr.    Cook   informs   me   that   you   have   re- 
ported to  him  a  reduction  of  the  Ft.  Sanders 
reservation.       General    Augur    promised    me 
plat   of   the   late   survey   but   I   have   received 
none.      Can    you    furnish    me   a   copy   of   the 
one    lately    made?      Also    please    inform    me 
what  reduction  has  been  made  in  the  reserva- 
tion and  at  what  point  it  is  made. 
Very  respectfully, 
Your  Obedient  Servant, 
SILAS  REED, 
Surveyor    General   of   Wvo.    Territory. 


General  Description: 

The  initial  point  for  the  survey  of  the 
northern  boundary  of  Wyoming  Territory 
is  the  Northwest  corner  of  Wyoming  as  es- 
tablished by  A.  V.  Richard,  U.  S.  Surveyor 
and  Astronomer  in  the  year  1873.  The  spot 
is  reasonably  well  perpetuated  from  materials 
found  immediately  surrounding  the  point.  It 
is  in  dense  fir  timber  on  the  northern  slope 
of  a  mountain  but  very  near  its  summit.  The 
post  and  its  witness  correspond  with  the 
description  furnished.  The  boundary  line  be- 
gins in  a  high  mountain  region,  a  portion 
of  the  real  Rocky  Mountains  and  continues 
in  these  mountains  during  the  entire  distance 
surveyed  this  season,  on  by  over  sixty  miles. 
With  the  first  10  miles  of  the  line  the  sur- 
veys are  almost  entirely  covered  with  dense 
fir,  pine  and  cedar  timber  of  rather  small 
size:  though  in  small  areas  the  trees  grow 
to  be  seventy  or  eighty  feet  high  and  three 
feet  in  diameter.  On  the  banks  of  the  streams 
one  finds  willows  and  poplar;  but  no  cotton- 
wood.  Between  the  9th  and  14th  mile  the 
line  crosses  the  approaches  to  and  Electric 
Peak.  It  crosses  this  mountain  about  one- 
eight  of  a  mile  south  of  its  extreme  highest 


48 


point  and  in  the  latitude  and  longitude  corre- 
sponds tolerably  close  with  those  repre- 
sented by  Dr.  Hayden's  survey.  Between 
these  mile  stations  (the  9th  and  14th)  great 
difficulty  was  experienced  in  prolonging  the 
tangent.  It  is  impossible  to  carry  a  transit 
clear  to  the  divide  on  the  tangent.  Having 
placed  the  head  flagman  on  the  line  east  of 
us  and  on  the  narrow  edge  of  the  summit 
of  the  divide  we  all  went  around  the  moun- 
tains and  then  got  (in  line)  on  the  east  side 
of  Reese's  Creek,  as  nearly  as  we  could  by 
using  the  magnetic  needle  and  sighting  back 
West  to  the  flagman.  As  soon  afterwards 
as  practicable  latitude  observations  were 
made  and  our  exact  location  was  determined. 
This  was  near  the  17th  mile  Station.  Elec- 
tric Peak  was  so  named  on  account  of  the 
great  amount  of  minerals  on  and  surround- 
ing it.  In  crossing  this  barrier  our  hardships 
were  peculiarly  severe.  On  the  evening  of 
September  6th,  after  quitting  work  on  the 
line  our  party  started  down  the  mountain  to 
find  camp.  We  divided  into  five  smaller 
companies.  The  camp  was  not  found  until 
noon  of  the  next  day,  all  hands  having  lain 
out  without  shelter  or  food,  since  morning 
of  the  6th.  I  walked  fully  20  miles  in  trying 
to  find  the  pack  train,  and  I  think  others 
traveled  as  far.  We  had  no  guide  and  the 
country  was  strange  to  all  of  us.  On  the 
8th  we  got  on  the  tangent,  on  mountains  as 
above  noted.  Reese's  Creek  heads  on  the 
east  side  of  Electric  Peak,  soon  found  it  im- 
possible to  chain  on  the  tangent  over  at  the 
range  just  west  of  Gardiners  River.  We 
traversed  around  it,  getting  "into  line"  by 
latitude  determinations  near  the  Mammoth 
Hot  Springs.  From  the  9th  to  the  17th 
mile  stations  the  country  consists  of  a  series 
of  rocky  points  and  ridges,  the  entire  way. 
The  valley  of  Gardiner's  River  is  about  two 
miles  wide  on  the  west  side  of  the  river, 
but  the  mountains  come  clear  to  the  water 
on  the  east  side.  The  walls  are  nearly  per- 
pendicular and  are  some  2000  feet  high.  Af- 
ter getting  on  top  by  a  triangulation,  the  line 
crosses  a  table  land  surface  of  which  is  some- 
what less  rugged,  but  still  more  uneven  than 
a  broken  or  rolling  prairie.  It  is  the  divide 
between  the  Gardiner's  and  the  Yellowstone 
rivers.  About  the  beginning  of  the  24th  mile 
the  line  strikes  a  steep  bluff  on  the  south 
side  of  the  Yellowstone  river,  descending  at 
the  24th  mile  corner  following  near  the  river 
on  its  southwest  side.  The  descending  to  the 
Yellowstone  was  an  old  Indian  trail  very 
stony,  steep,  dim  and  dangerous.  The  cross- 
ing causes  some  solicitude  on  account  of  the 
huge  boulders  scattered  over  the  bed  of  the 
river.  Altho  made  with  safety  by  us  at  this 
season  of  the  year  (September)  the  crossing 
in  high  water  must  be  exceedingly  perilous 
if  it  can  be  crossed  at  all.  The  lines  keeps 
in  the  valley  of  the  Yellowstone  for  three 
or  four  miles  and  then  begins  to  gradually 
work  away  from  it  getting  towards  the  north 
and  climbing  ridge  after  ridge  and  cliff  after 
cliff  of  the  most  rugged  and  difficult  breaks 
or  foot-hills  of  the  mountains,  which  are  still 
higher  further  north.  By  the  time  the  trail 
on  Soda  Butte  Creek,  near  the  smelter  was 
reached   the    rocky    perpendicular    and    stony 


sided  peaks  becomes  so  numerous  and  close 
together  on   the   lines   it   was   found  impossi- 
ble to  chain  further  any  continuous  long  dis- 
tance   (one   mile   or   even   one-half   mile)    on 
the    line.      A    series    of    triangles    was    made 
from  where  connecting  with  each  other  close*| 
to    where    we    abandoned    the    survey.      The 
mile  and  witness  monuments  were  established 
wherever  we  determine  our  exact  distance  onp 
the    parallel    and    could    reach    it    with    tools.. 
Most  of  the  worst  peaks  have  been  crossed 
and  from  now   (60th  line)   eastward  the  line 
maybe  chained  most  of  the  way.     Although 
the  last  five  miles  were  measured  by  triangu- 
lation   almost    entirely    several    corners    were 
established  on   the   parallel.     These   triangles 
are    given    in    detail   in    the   foregoine   notes; 
and  a  diagram  showing  their  continuous  con^i 
nections  also  accompanies  these  notes.     The 
whole  of  this  distance  on  the  boundary  line 
(60  miles)  is  for  a  great  elevation,  averaging 
probably  8000  feet  above  the  sea.     It  is  about 
10,000   feet   near   the   beginning   and   quitting 
points.     It  never  descended  below  6000  feet; 
and   the   bed   of   Gardiner's   and   Yellowstone 
river  and  6100  feet  and  6750  feet  respectfully, 
while    the    summits    of    Electric    and    Inded 
Peaks  are   11   to   12,000  feet  above  sea  leveLj 
Clarks   Fork   Mines   are   about   9500   and   the 
Mamouth    Hot    Springs    between    7    to    80J0|, 
feet  above   the  level  of  the  sea.     The   whole 
distances    with    the    exception    of    about    five 
mile   in   crossing  the   comparatively   level   di- 
vide   between     Gardiner's    and    Yellowstone, 
river,  is  continuously  in  the  roughest  kind  oft 
a    mountain    region.      It    had   been    predicted 
by  men  who  had  visited  at  Yellowstone  Park 
and    the    Clarks    Fork    Mines   that   we    could! 
not   survey   this   line   by   chaining   and   could 
not    establish    the    line    corners.      Several    of 
Dr.     Hayden's    assistants    had    so    expressed, 
themselves  to  me.     It  will  be  observed  how- 
ever,   that    46   out    of    60    mile    stations    have 
been    located    including    the    witness    corners! 
(set    as    near    the    true    place    improvements 
near  it;  and  the  Clarks  Fork  Mines  and  the 
surrounding    improvements.      Volumes    have 
already  been   written  describing  the   Yellow- 
stone   Natural    Park   and   many   surveys   and 
reports   of   its   wonder   have   been    published. 
I  shall  note  only  a  few  recent  changes.  Block 
House  stronglv  and  carefully  built  during  the' 
summer  (1879)  by  Colonel  P.  W.  Norris,  thJ 
Superintendent  of  the  Yellowstone  Park  usecS 
as    the    headquarters    for    the    Superintendent: 
and    employees.      It    stands    on    a    hill   about! 
one-fourth   of   a   mile   northeast   of   the   greati 
Hot  Basin,  in  a  commanding  position  and  isjj 
in   strength,   fineness   and   design,  one   of  the 
best    block    houses    I    ever    saw.      It    is    two 
stories  high,  contains  six  large  rooms,  cupola 
and  flagstaff.     It  is  about  50  feet  by  30  feet^ 
in    external    measurements    and    probably    30 
feet    high.      A    good    wagon    road    has    been 
built  to  the  upper  geyser  basin  about  60  miles- 
south   of   the   house   and   to    Bozeman,    Mon-j 
tana,    about    70    miles    north    of    the    house. 
Numerous  excellent  trails  also  lead  from  the  | 
house  in  various   directions.     A  man   named 
McCartney  keeps  a  hotel  on  the  reservation 
near  the  house  supplys.     He  sells  bad  whisky, 
encourages  gambling  and  charges  exorbitant 
prices.     He  has  no  permission   nor  authority 


49 


to  live  on  the  reservation  and  should  be  put 
off  although  it  would  require  physical  force 
to  do  it.  The  wagon  roads  are  good  and 
were  much  used  by  tourists  last  summer. 
I  described  these  buildings  because  they  are 
within  one  and  one-half  miles  of  the  boun- 
dary. There  are  about  a  dozen  cabins  built 
and  occupied  along  the  Yellowstone  river  be- 
tween the  boundary  line  and  40  miles  below. 
The  nearest  one  is  about  five  miles  north 
of  the  line  or  one  mile  below  the  mouth  of 
the  Gardiners  river.  Then  comes  Reese's 
ranch,  a  store  and  a  ferry  at  that  point. 
About  30  miles  from  the  boundary  on  the 
route  to  Bozeman  is  Boeltler's  ranch,  the 
best  one  on  the  river.  A  toll  gate  is  sta- 
tioned about  15  miles  north  of  the  boundary 
on  the  road  to  Bozeman. 

The  mineral  locality  is  known  as  the 
"Clarks  Fork  Mines"  and  is  at  the  head  of 
the  "Clarks  Fork"  of  the  Yellowstone  river 
about  one-half  mile  north  of  the  boundary 
opposite  the  56th  to  57th  miles.  These  mines 
were  discovered  in  1870  and  were  worked 
only  with  a  view  of  obtaining  title  until  in 
1877,  a  smelter  was  built  by  a  Bozeman  Com- 
pany. After  taking  out  a  large  quantity  of 
ore,  the  smelter  was  worked  only  one  season. 
Then  it  was  found  that  it  did  not  pay  to 
tTeTg+it  the  ore  500  miles  to  the  railroad  and 
the  mines  are  now  worked  only  to  preserve 
rights  under  the  mining  laws.  "The  Great 
Republic"  was  the  first  mine  discovered.  He 
owns  a  fractional  interest;  and  still  expects 
to  realize  handsomely  from  his  mine  when 
they  get  a  railroad.  Silver,  Galena  and  Gold 
and  their  products.  A  large  boarding  house 
and  some  one-half  dozen  cabins  have  been 
built  at  the  mines  but  all  were  abandoned 
when  we  were  there.  It  is  dreadfully  cold 
in  winter,  and  no  one  has  ever  tried  to  re- 
main the  year  round.  The  entire  distances 
surveyed  are  watered  by  numerous  mountain 
rivulets,  springs,  rivers  and  lakes.  It  is  ex- 
ceptionally well  provided  with  clear  cold 
mountain  streams.  Many  of  the  streams  and 
lakes  abound  in  fine  trout.  Those  caught 
in  Slough  Creek  and  Soda  Butte  Creek  and 
Lake  Abundance  were  also  delicious  and 
man}-  of  them  weighed  four  or  five  pounds. 
Our  party  averaging  in  number  16  men;  and 
the  company  of  cavalry  and  escort  averaging 
50  men.  We  were  kept  constantly  supplied 
with  fish  and  game  from  the  time  we  left 
until  we  returned  to  Ft.  Washakie,  nearly 
three  months.  Elk,  deer,  antelope  and  rab- 
bits were  as  num-erous  over  the  entire  region 
as  dogs  in  an  Indian  camp.  There  were 
hunters  with  us  who  were  especially  skilled; 
one  man  in  particular  never  going  out  and 
returning  without  game,  as  far  as  I  ever 
heard.  We  saw  but  one  buffalo  while  en- 
gaged in  work  on  the  survey  but  on  our 
march  home  we  saw  hundreds  and  killed  a 
few;  seven  in  one  afternoon.  The  personnel 
af  the  surveying  companies  have  been  re- 
organized, soon  after  finishing  the  Colorado- 
Utah  boundary  line,  also  carefully  selected. 
It  was  made  up  mainly  from  the  mountain- 
eers; who  were  adapted  to  the  life  and  work 
and  the  surveying  was  cheerfully  and  well 
done.  It  had  been  several  years  since  I  have 
been  associated  in  the  field  with  as  efficient. 


faithful  and  agreeable  a  company  of  assistants 
as  this  one  proved  to  be;  and"  we  were  all 
sorry  when  the  work  had  to  be  abandoned, 
so  early  in  the  season.  The  formation  on 
Gardiners  and  Yellowstone  rivers  and  west 
of  there  is  of  limestone  east  of  the  moun- 
tains across  the  divide  between  Yellowstone 
rivers  and  Clarks  Fork  which  is  of  quartz 
and  basalt.  There  is  no  prairie  of  any  con- 
sequence on  this  march  of  the  boundary  the 
mile  or  two  east  of  Gardiners  river,  and  the 
five  miles  east  of  it  being  about  the  only 
stretches  of  open  country  worth  mentioning. 
The  soil  was  rocky  and  unfit  for  cultiva- 
tion except  in  the  narrow  boundary  of  Gardi- 
ner's and  Yellowstone  rivers  and  possibly  on 
the  rolling  divide  between  the  two  rivers 
and  there  it  should  have  been  irrigated.  We 
had  an  abundance  of  good  water  and  whole- 
some food.  The  weather  was  perfect  de- 
lightful most  of  the  time.  It  snowed  hard 
for  an  hour  or  two  on  September  10th;  then 
cleared  off  and  it  did  not  snow  again  until 
in  October  6th,  when  we  had  a  severe  storm 
referred  to  in  the  preceding  field  notes.  This 
long  continued  snow  storm  drove  us  from 
our  work.  We  started  home  on  the  9th  of 
October  and  arrived  at  Fort  Washakie  on 
the  23rd,  two  weeks  afterwards.  The  mili- 
tary company  lost  several  of  their  animals 
from  exhaustion  but  we  saved  ours.  Since 
returning  to  Washington  I  heard  that  two 
of  my  own  had  died.  I  append  a  list  of 
locations  and  distances  furnished  me  by  Mr. 
A.  D.  Wilson,  before  starting  away  last  year. 
He  was  chief  topographer  in  Dr.  Hayden's 
survey  and  is  now  under  Mr.  Clarence  King 
in  United  States  Geological  and  General  Sur- 
vey. These  locations  were  determined  from 
a  series  of  triangulations  made  in  1878  by 
Mr.  Wilson.  It  may  be  observed  our  loca- 
tions correspond  close  in  latitude  but  not 
longitude,  I  can  not  account  for  the  apparent 
difference  as  our  line  was  carefully  meas- 
ured and  his  locations  are  usually  accurate. 
There  are  also  other  mines  in  Bear  and 
Crevice  gulches;  some  are  placer  gold.  Al- 
tho  the  last  36  miles  of  our  survey  was  the 
establishment  of  part  of  the  southern  boun- 
dary of  the  Crow  Indian  Reservation  we  saw 
no  Indians,  nor  did  we  see  any  at  any  time 
while  making  this  survey.  They  were  on 
the  east  side  of  the  mountains  on  their  reser- 
vation and  we  may  expect  to  see  many  of 
them  in  continuing  the  line  eastward  next 
summer  (1880).  In  going  to  and  returning 
from  the  field  of  operations  we  met  a  few 
but  not  many  Indians. 


Quartermaster,   General   Office, 
Washington,  D.  C,  Nov.  16,  1866. 
Hon.  Edwin  M.  Staunton, 
Secretary  of  War. 
Sir:— 

I  have  the  honor  to  submit  herewith  a 
plan  of  the  proposed  military  reservation. 
Ft.  John  Buford  on  the  main  fork  of  Big 
Laramie  River,  Dakota  Territory,  and  also 
a  general  map  of  the  adjacent  country.  The 
following  description  of  the  boundary  line  of 
the  proposed  reservation  has  been  furnished 
by  Bt.  Brig.  Gen'l  L.  C.  Eaton,  first  quarter- 


- 

Jims?  •   -SEMBI' 

~ :  :     r  -^ 

: 

~— -     :  - 


.  : : :  -     - 


- 
: 

- 


_ 


7 HZ  AlfIS  «:xt:  : 


i- 


_ 


_ 


- 


- 


:.-    i 


- 

-     - 


-_::  ■-.-  : 


-    -  - 


' 


T.  "     ".'  \      '  i'        " 


.-  I         " 


-    -: 


-----  :      :."  ■'.-  t.  :-rl      '=_-         :  :  i 

in  tkr  Unw  Bacafcc  Gihwm  iij    ssufi  afce>  a. 

Ac 

;  \---  i---k  -.--  -.- .'.      -    -—.      -  -----  -■--.   -.   -      - 

-     ------  -  ---  -- 

-.}-■     -.-.—  I      ~    ZZsz 

2~---Z    ~    ~  ::■: :    :-    . -- -    i    :  :  —  '    -    -    :    --    - 
----    ~--    -~    ~~  -      '     :    \  \ -r\~ii . _r    \: - 

-----.  -    -  --: -..-'-   \i  -  —  -  -  :_    : 

— .-- 
_  -       .  .    .  -    -  - 

r       "      . 


".-  -.--  -  ...  -. 

VCHE  IfifWC-t    Tmikiwqj  Bra* 

-     -      -  . 

~r—  -    ., —  .  -    ~~ 

"    "        "  _ "  "  "       - 

.     '         - 


- 


:  :  :  it  -  :        "     ::       -     ::  -  - 


- 


-  rcT:  -r~-  z-  rziz 


r  - 
:  irz    "     :  : ..  ~. 


~  "  -    ~     :  --      -    -   --    "  -  -r  :  rx  -  -  -  -        r  ;    —_"    .  r  -  - 

--Z--    -------    --.  ------    -  -----   i    --■-   ■__--_ 

-T  -\\  __r~"  -     -z^r     :  _         :  Mr 


- 

: ;  a. :    r  -  - 
-   _-     :      lei:.;-    :_j   i  n,.  r 

r~  :  t^_"-     — 

-;  :      r-.-.c  r".-  ?.r—  -_   ---  ---     ?:-  : 

— i    -  "il  ;—  ::;      :r::r    -_>     -------        I: 

:r-r    -.-.—      ~    i    --:_l_L  :  :  :       r~ 

t  4k  wee 

- 

....     .  .    ■  -■•:  :       .        _:    "  ■  r   ~-  - 


■ 
~  r :  ~     :    ~    —    ""-ic    :i- 
-----    :  -    "    -~  -"_-    ~i  -— ----^    •  ~-~  —        "       :  -   :  t  -  r 
*    :    -  -  -  :r  -    .  _    --      :r         :  ~.::  -  : ". 

rr"  - 

:     :-t  ~_:t  -  :    i—--  —_-—  -       :~  :--  -:./'tr 

:    —  r- :     :_-:"    ":      :  :~    ~-Z-     _  _  "  -— :  ~r  ~  -  : 

----- 

--.--  --'.  z  :z  --:-:--  ~  :  ~  -:  "_ :  ~~  ::-.i  ~:c 
-_--.o_:-_  r-r--  — _:  i.:  -  :  -  — -  -r—  ----- 
-\-    --—  : — .-~.     ir"i~     ::-r~  ... 

:_r;-   ------       .i  .    :rr~_::    —    — :- 

-:     -i-    ::: "       :     M-     •-  '•  :;  -     :-     z  -T^zr ■-_-—  -  : " 

- 

- 

- 
;-     :    rrj."    r   m-    :e-     ^ 


52 


tisement  of  the  patent  medicine  had  been 
written  across  the  face  of  the  monument, 
this  would  be  the  same  as  if  it  were  there 
in  reality,  so  he  did  not  employ  the  services 
of  the  sign  writer,  but  boldly  made  the  as- 
sertion to  a  sympathizing  world.  The  news- 
papers of  the  country  denounced  in  severe 
terms  the  so-called  outrage  and  thus  the 
patent  medicine  got  the  full  benefit  of  the 
advertisement. 

Later  a  justice  of  the  peace  at  Laramie 
named  Murphy,  learned  that  the  monument 
by  mistake  had  been  located  on  government 
land  and  not  on  a  railroad  quarter;  so  he 
hastened  to  the  United  States  Land  Office 
at  Cheyenne  and  entered  the  land  as  a  home- 
stead. Returning  home  he  wrote  to  the 
Union  Pacific  Company  that  he  would  be 
greatly  obliged  to  them  if  they  would  take 
the  pile  of  stone  off  of  his  farm.  The  humor 
of  the  thing  will  be  apparent  when  it  is  noted 
that  the  whole  landscape  thereabout  is  cov- 
ered with  large  holders  and  being  high  up 
on  the  mountain  top  there  is  not  a  drop  of 
water  to  moisten  the  thirsty  stones,  but  the 
railroad  officials  saw  in  spite  of  Murphy's 
grim  humor  a  most  serious  state  of  affairs. 
An  investigation  of  matters  was  at  once  made 
and  the  monument  found  to  be  on  the  land 
Murphy  had  entered. 

But  pardon  a  little  digression  while  we  get 
acquainted  with  Murphy  nad  his  family.  That 
man  Murphy  was  in  his  way  a  real  character 
and  like  most  of  the  Celtic  race  he  was  fond 
of  office.  At  the  time  of  which  I  write  he 
had  after  an  exciting  election  contest  been 
chosen  to  fill  the  office  of  Justice  of  the 
Peace.  His  friends  had  congratulated  him 
and  the  friends  of  Mrs.  Murphy  had  not 
been  sparing  of  good  words  on  her  husband's 
account.  Her  female  associates  were  kind 
enough  to  say  that  it  was  no  nice  to  have 
such  a  smart  man  for  a  husband  and  this 
went  on  until  the  fond  and  happy  wife  felt 
considerably  puffed  up. 

The  treasures  of  the  Murphy  household 
were  three  children,  two  girls  and  a  boy. 
It  is  related  that  the  children  looked  on  in 
wonder  when  they  heard  the  father  and 
mother  showered  with  congratulations  and 
the  oldest  girl  one  day  made  the  interesting 
inquiry:  "Mother  are  we  all  Justices  of 
Peace?"  To  which  the  mother  instantly  re- 
plied,  "No,  dearie,  only  me  and  your  pa." 

The  railroad  attorney  from  Omaha  visited 
Laramie  and  consulted  with  his  local  asso- 
ciates there  in  regard  to  the  very  serious  dif- 
ficulties in  which  the  judge  had  placed  the 
company.  The  monument  had  cost  $80,000 
and  as  it  could  not  be  moved  title  must  in 
some  way  be  secured  to  the  ground  upon 
which  it  stood.  Judge  Murphy  was  not  easy 
to  approach,  as  he  had  been  persuaded  that 
there  was  a  fortune  within  his  grasp.  Final- 
ly the  two  lawyers  called  upon  him  and  after 
due  exchange  of  courtesies  the  matter  in  hand 
was  mentioned.  Murphy  would  not  listen 
to  any  argument  that  would  go  to  prove  that 
his  farm  was  not  a  valuable  one.  He  did 
not  refuse  to  sell  it  however,  but  mentioned 
a  price  which  was  way  up  into  the  thousands. 
The  lawyers  saw  that  there  was  no  use  to 
continue    the    negotiations    on    that    line,    so 


they  called  his  attention  to  what  they  de- 
clared was  the  serious  aspect  of  the  case. 
They  assured  him  that  for  a  judge  to  enter 
into  a  conspiracy  and  take  advantage  of  his 
neighbor  was  a  very  grave  offence,  and 
while  they  were  his  friends,  and  wanted  to 
help  him  out  of  the  scrape  into  which  he  had 
gotien  himself  through  listening  to  bad  ad- 
vice, they  informed  him  that  he  could  be  im- 
peached and  that  meant  that  he  would  not 
only  be  deprived  of  his  office  but  would  be 
fined  no  inconsiderable  amount,  and  more 
than  this  impeachment  carried  with  it  a  sen- 
tence from  the  court  which  would  forever 
prevent  him  from  holding  office  or  even  vot- 
ing. Murphy  was  horrified  at  this  view  of 
"he  case.  Visions  of  impeachment,  his  fall 
from  greatness,  and  social  wreck  of  his  fam- 
Ay  all  stared  him  in  the  face. 

Great  drops  of  sweat  rolled  down  the  ju- 
dicial brow;  he  tried  to  think  but  the  very 
effort  made  his  head  swim.  Finally  one  of 
the  lawyers  came  to  his  relief  and  soothed 
his  troubled  mind  by  proposing  to  give  him 
several  city  lots  which  he  was  assured  had 
a  prospective  value  of  several  hundreds  of 
dollars,  if  he  would  release  to  the  United 
States  his  farm  on  Sherman  Hill.  Murphy 
was  glad  to  fix  it  up  that  way  and  the  law- 
yers at  once  drew  up  the  papers  and  laid 
script  on  the  land  and  thus  it  became  the 
property  of  the  Union   Pacific. 

— From  the   Coutant   Notes. 


WILLIAM  B.  TRUFANT,  DICTATION, 
TAKEN  AT  DENVER,  COLORADO, 
FEBRUARY  1,  1886.     ROOM  27. 

Born,  January  9th,  1839,  at  Bath,  Maine, 
on  the  Kennebeck  river.  Lived  in  Bath  un- 
til fourteen  (14)  years  of  age.  Then  went  to 
sea,  on  Merchant  Ship  "Sarah  Boyd,"  fa- 
ther's name  Gilbert  C.  Trufant,  mothers 
name  Sarah  Boyd  after  whom  the  ship  in 
which  I  sailed  was  named.  First  voyage 
from  New  York,  1853  to  Panama.  In  1856 
sailed  around  the  world  in  the  ship  "Rock 
Light"  a  merchant  ship.  On  this  ship  was 
chief  officer.  In  December  1862  left  the  mer- 
chant service  went  to  New  York  by  ordel 
of  the  Navy  Department,  was  here  examined 
ior  the  service  and  in  1863  was  admitted  to 
the  naval  service  as  acting  ensign.  Remained 
in  the  service  until  September  19th,  1865. 
Was  wounded  in  the  service  by  the  explosion 
of  a  torpedo  at  Wilmington,  N.  C.  February 
20th,  1865  about  10  p.  m.  Was  out  as  a  vol- 
unteer to  pick  up  torpedoes  to  save  the  fleet' 
from  destruction.  When  wounded  was  un- 
conscious for  more  than  a  week.  Five  naval 
surveyors  consulting  gave  me  up  to  die,  but 
I  said  "I  shall  not  die  I  am  going  to  live."! 
When  sent  to  the  guard  ship  after  being 
wounded  the  surgeon  said,  "What  in  H — 1 
did  they  send  this  man  here  for,  for  me  to 
make   out  a   certificate  of  death  for   him?" 

Was  honorably  discharged  from  the  ser- 
vice September  19th,  1865  with  the  thanks 
of  the  dpeartment.  After  being  discharged 
from  the  service  stayed  at  home  m  Bath, 
Maine,  for  eighteen  (18)  months  Then  went 
to  California  around  Cape  Hie  ox-traiiturned 
across  the   Isthmus  of  ffansportation.  In 


53 


1869  started  from  Bath  for  the  visit.  In 
1869  was  employed  by  Union  Pacific  Rail- 
road. On  July  1st,  1870  went  to  Cheyenne 
to  take  charge  of  the  baggage  Department 
of  the  Union  Pacific  Railroad  for  that  town, 
where  I  remained  until  1881. 

On  the  28th  of  April  1881,  was  appointed 
Superintendent  of  the  New  Union  Depot  at 
Denver,  which  office  I  now  hold. 

Was  enrolling  clerk  of  the  House  of  Wyo- 
ming Legislature  in  1878  also,  chief  enrolling 
and  engrossing  clerk  of  the  7th  Legislative 
Assembly  for  1880. 

r  In  1877  was  High  Priest  of  Wyoming 
Chapter  Number  1,  of  Masons.  Was  depu- 
tized the  same  year  by  the  Grand  Chapter 
of  the  United  States,  through  the  General 
Grand  High  Priest  of  the  same,  to  institute 
two  other  Chapters  in  the  Territory.  One 
of  these  Chapters  instituted  was  Evanston, 
Chapter  Number  2,  instituted  October  10th, 
1877  with  Hon.  F.  M.  Foot  as  High  Priest.' 
The  next  chapter  instituted  was  Lebanon 
Chapter  No  3  at  Laramie  City,  October  12th 
1877,  with  Hon.  S.  S.  Mills  as  High  Priest.' 
I  was  the  first  Knight  Templar  initiated  in 
Wyoming  Territory.  Was  afterwards  Emi- 
nent Commander  of  the  K.  T.  for  two  terms 
and  in  1880  as  Eminent  Commander  took 
rlYe^Vyoming  Commandery  to  Chicago  in  a 
body  to  attend  the  Grand  Encampment  of 
the  Knights  Templars  of  the  United  States. 
From  this  fact,  Wyoming  holds  the  honor 
of  being  the  first  Territory  ever  represented 
as  a  body  in  that  memorable  Encampment. 
In  1870  Cheyenne  was  connected  by  rail  to 
Denver  by  the  D.  P.  R.  R.  and  I  counted 
the  rails  which  were  used  in  laying  the  track 
from  Evans  to  Denver  the  last  connecting 
links  in  the  iron  chain  which  now  binds  the 
two  towns,  together. 

Married  Martha  F.  Gannette  of  Bath, 
Maine  in  1875,  June  10th.  Have  three  chil- 
dren. 

—From   Coutant  Notes. 


JAMES  TALBOT 
Cheyenne,  Wyoming  Territory 

Born  in  County  Tiberany  Ireland  Novem- 
ber 1st,  1838  spent  childhood  at  home  on 
farm.  At  21  years  sailed  for  America  choos- 
ing to  weather  an  ocean  voyage  rather  than 
stand  a  game  law  trial.  A  few  days  after 
arriving  in  New  York,  found  employment  in 
the  Leigh  Valley  Pineries.  In  April  '66  left 
for  Fort  Kerney,  Nebraska  via  St.  Joseph 
boat  to  Omaha  and  stage  to  the  fort.  Work- 
ed about  a  year  for  the  Western  Union  Tele- 
graph Company  on  repairs  from  Fort  Kerney 
to  Wood  River  east  and  Plum  Creek  WTest. 
At  this  time  the  Indians  were  very  war-like 
and  made  numerous  raids  on  Ranches  and 
R.  R.  Men..  Mr.  Talbots  duty  took  him  over 
the  road  at  all  hours  often  without  escort  or 
companion  and  he  remarks  that  it  was  only 
good  luck  that  saved  his  head  for  men  were 
killed  almost  daily  along  the  route. 

In  July  was  sent  to  Plum  Creek  to  repair 
the  line  when  on  arrival  found  the  Indians 
so  numerous  that  he  decided  it  too  dangerous 
to  work  alone  and  so  returned  which  was 
none  to  soon  for  that  night  they  wrecked  and 


plundered  a  Union  Pacific  train  just  across 
the  river  when  the  engineer  and  fireman 
were  killed  also  two  section  men  and  one 
man  scalped  who  in  crawling  away  found 
his  own  scalp  which  the  Indians  had  dropped. 
Afterward  went  to  Omaha  where  he  tried  to 
have  his  scalp  regrown — which  failed.  Mr. 
Talbot  spent  much  time  hunting  wild  game, 
Buffaloes,  Elk,  Deer  and  antelope  which 
were  very  plentiful  at  that  time  on  the  Re- 
publican River.  Mr.  Talbot  says  that  at  two 
different  times  he  saw  with  others  of  his 
party,  two  of  their  horses  walk  up  and  eat 
freely  of  the  fresh  buffalo  meat  that  they 
had  killed  and  hung  up.  September  27th, 
'67  he  arrived  in  Cheyenne  at  that  date  the 
railroad  was  within  35  miles  of  Cheyenne  at 
Pine  Bluffs  east  of  the  city. 

Began  laying  the  Sun  dried  brick  which 
at  that  time  was  selling  at  $65.00  per  M. 
These  dobie  brick  were  displaced  by  the 
burnt  brick  on  arrival  of  R.  R.  On  arriv- 
ing in  Cheyenne  pitched  tent  on  ground  be- 
tween 19th  and  20th  streets  on  O'Neil.  The 
party  amused  themselves  by  playing  cards 
and  the  outfit  consisted  of  a  cracker  box  for 
a  table  and  boxes  and  saddles  for  seats.  This 
night  the  party  were  startled  by  a  sudden 
volley  of  fire-arms  and  upon  investigation 
found  some  fifty  armed  men  not  more  than 
twenty  yards  from  their  tent  on  inquiry 
found  they  had  shot  and  killed  two  of  the 
men,  since  that  time  every  old  settler  records 
from  that  night.  In  '68  the  first  building 
of  any  consequence  was  finished  being  the 
old  Catholic  Church  built  by  Father  Kellev. 
Mr.  Talbot  plastered  the  same.  The  first 
brick  block  of  any  note  was  erected  by  Joslin 
and  Parks,  the  same  being  now  occupied 
by  Kahmer,  Beuchman  and  Jackson,  Jan.  11, 
'70  the  city  was  visited  by  a  big  fire  on  16th 
and  Eddy  Streets.  Mr.  Talbot  has  engaged 
in  the  building  of  and  owns  several  houses 
in  the  city.      Is  a  good   substantial  citizen. 

— From  Coutant  Notes. 


THE  NATURAL  FORT 
Twelve  Miles  Southwest  of  Cheyenne,  Wyo. 

One  of  the  noted  places  in  the  early  history 
of  the  Rocky  Mountains  is  the  Natural  Fort, 
located  twelve  miles  southwest  of  Cheyenne. 
In  1831  buffaloes  were  scarce  in  the  Crow 
country  and  that  tribe  came  down  to  the 
south  side  of  the  North  Platte  and  hunted 
over  the  ground  east  and  south  of  the  Lara- 
mie range.  A  band  of  Blackfeet  Indians, 
the  heriditary  foes  of  the  Crows,  for  the 
same  reason  came  south  and  hunted  buffalo 
on  the  Laramie  plains  and  finally  crossed 
over  Sherman  Hill  and  ran  onto  the  Crow 
hunters. 

The  Blackfeet  took  refuge  in  the  Natural 
Fort  and  defied  the  Crows  to  attack  them. 
The  latter  tribe  had  no  desire  to  risk  a  fight 
for  the  possession  of  the  stronghold  but  it 
chanced  that  there  were  twenty  white  trap- 
pers with  the  Crowrs  and  this  class  of  men 
never  lost  an  opportunity  to  engage  the 
Blackfeet  in  battle.  Jim  Beckworth,  the 
noted  mulatto  trapper  and  Indian  fighter  was 


\ 


54 


at  that  time  chief  of  the  Crows  and  the  trap- 
pers prevailed  upon  him  to  join  them  in  an 
attack  on  the  Blackfeet.  The  assault  was 
made  upon  two  sides  of  the  fort.  The  Crows 
were  led  by  Beckworth  and  the  white  men 
by  Robert  Mildrum,  a  young  Kentuckian, 
and  it  turned  out  to  be  one  of  the  most  san- 
guinary affairs  that  ever  took  place  in  the 
Rocky  Mountains.  There  were  160  Black- 
feet  within  the  fort  and  these  were  killed 
and  scalped  to  a  man.  The  Crows  lost  40 
killed  and  more  than  double  that  number 
were  wounded.  Of  the  white  men  Robert 
Mildrum   was  the  only  man  wounded. 

The  Natural  Fort  which  is  located  12 
miles  southwest  of  Cheyenne  is  an  old  land- 
mark and  has  a  historv  dating  back  to  fur 
trading  days.  From  the  advance  sheets  of 
the  second  volume  of  Coutant's  History  of 
Wyoming  we  are  enabled  to  glean  the  story 
of  a  Great  Battle  which  was  fought  at  the 
Natural  Fort  during  the  fall  of  1831.  A  vil- 
lage of  the  Crow  tribe  of  Indians  came  south 
on  a  buffalo  hunt,  crossing  the  North  Platte 
at  the  mouth  of  the  Laramie  and  followed 
up  this  stream  until  they  reached  the  Box 
Elder  then  going  south.  The  hunters  killed 
a  large  number  of  buffalo  on  the  plains  east 
of  the  Laramie  range  and  finally  followed  an 
immense  herd  down  Crow  Creek,  covering 
the  ground  where  Cheyenne  now  stands.  In 
that  neighborhood  they  ran  into  a  band  of 
Blackfeet  warriors  who  had  headed  the  big 
buffalo  herd  which  the  Crows  were  driving. 
The  Crows  greatly  out-numbered  the  Black- 
feet but  the  first  named  tribe  had  with  them 
twenty  trappers  and  among  these  was  Rob- 
ert Mildrum  a  noted  man  of  the  Mountains. 
Jim  Beckwourth  was  the  War  Chief  of  the 
Crows.  As  soon  as  the  Blackfeet  were  dis- 
covered, the  Crows  attacked  them,  driving 
them  southwest.  They  soon  reached  the  Nat- 
ural Fort,  and  here  the  Blackfeet  took  refuge, 
the  Crows  did  not  care  to  make  an  assault 
on  the  almost  impregnable  position;  but  the 
white  trappers  taunted  them  with  being  cow- 
ards and  finally  Jim  Beckwourth  raised  a 
party  and  the  attack  was  made. 

— From  Coutant  Notes. 


Cheyenne,  Wyoming,  June  8,  1903. 
Mrs.  Ida  K.  Galbreath, 
State  Librarian, 
Columbus,  O. 
Dear  Mrs.  Galbreath: 

I  wrote  you  on  Friday  last  that  I  would 
later  tell  you  the  story  of  the  origin  and 
significance  of  the  Wyoming  Coat  of  Arms. 

The  First  State  Legislature,  which  con- 
vened on  November  12th,  1890,  passed  the 
law  creating  the  Seal  of  the  State.  The  word- 
ing of  the  law  was  as  follows: 

A  circle  two  and  one-fourth  inches  in  dia- 
meter, upon  the  lower  half  of  which  is  em- 
blazoned a  landscape,  representing  in  the 
centre,  a  valley,  through  which  flows  a 
stream,  upon  the  banks  of  which  cattle  are 
grazing  and  a  man  plowing;  to  the  right  of 
said  valley,  a  range  of  mountains,  upon  the 
slope  of  which  said  mountains  is  represent- 
ed mining  works.  Said  landscape  is  surround- 


ed by  a  ribbon  scroll  reaching  from  both 
sides  of  said  landscape  up  to  the  top  centre 
of  said  landscape,  upon  which  rests  a  plat- 
form upon  the  outer  edge  of  which  is  en- 
graved the  words,  "Equal  Rights."  Upon 
said  platform  stands  the  figure  of  a  woman, 
with  right  arm  uplifted,  pointing  to  a  five 
pointed  star,  within  which  are  engraved  the 
figures  '44.  From  the  said  uplifted  arm 
hangs  a  broken  chain.  To  the  left  of  said 
platform  are  engraved  the  figures  1869.  To 
the  right  of  said  platform  are  engraved  the 
figures,  1890.  Entirely  surrounding  the  said 
circle  is  a  plain  band  three-eights  of  an  inch 
in  breath,  upon  the  upper  half  of  which  are 
engraved  the  words,  "Great  Seal,"  and  upon 
the  lower  half,  the  words,  "State  of  Wyo- 
ming," in  letters  three-sixteenths  of  an  inch 
high." 

After  the  adjournment  of  the  Legislature 
some  one  called  the  attention  of  the  Secre- 
tary of  State,  Dr.  A.  W.  Barber,  who  was 
then  Acting  Gvoernor  of  the  State,  to  the 
fact  that  the  woman  spoken  of  was  a  nude 
figure,  and  he,  in  consequence  of  this,  refused 
to  have  the  seal  made. 

There  was  quite  a  talk  in  the  newspapers 
about  the  matter  and  State  Senator  Chatter- 
ton,  (now  Acting  Governor)  who  was  the 
author  of  the  bill  explained  its  meaning.  He 
had  been  a  great  admirer  of  Power's  "Greek 
Slave"  and  the  woman  on  the  seal  of  the 
State  was  an  exact  copy  of  it,  with  the  ex- 
ception that  the  chain  on  this  woman  was 
broken,  signifying  the  enfranchisement  of 
the  women  of  Wyoming. 

The    next    legislature    took    up    the    matter 
and   repassed   the  law  but   draped  the   figure 
after  the  style  of  the  Goddess  of  Libert}'. 
Respectfully  yours, 

(Signed)     C.  G.  COUTANT, 

State  Librarian. 


Bordeaux,  Wvoming, 
August  22,  1897. 
Mr.   D.   Houghton, 
Dear  Sir: — 

I  have  been  up  in  the  Reeshaw  hills  today, 
and  sixteen  years  have  made  quite  a  change 
on    the    rocks    the    month,    and    day    of    the ; 
month  is  entirely  gone  but  the  names  and  the 
year   can    still    be    traced,   the    first    is    E.    R. 

Lee 1841,    the    second    is    C.    W. 

Lacy...... ...1841. 

I  have  no  doubt  myself  by  the  looks  of  the* 
writing  today  and  what  I  wrote  beside  it , 
sixteen  years  ago  but  that  the  first  writing 
had  been  done  forty  years  before  I  saw  it. 

About  a  year  ago  my  oldest  son  was  up 
there,  and  by  hearing  me  talking  about  this 
writing  he  looked  it  up  and  cut  in  the  rock  , 
with  his  knife,  both  their  names  under  the 
old  bleached  ones,  also  the  year  but  no  month 
and  from  that  I  suppose  he  could  not  see } 
it  then,  the  outlines  of  the  horse  is  still  there, 
but  no  more,  the  month  that  once  could  be 
seen  between  the  above  names  and  the  year 
is  February  but  the  day  I  could  not  be  sure. 
Yours  very  truly, 

COLIN  MacDougall. 
— From  Coutant  Notes. 


55 


TOLD  AT  THE  CAMPFIRE 

1  have  before  me  Captain  Nickerson's  his- 
tory of  that  part  of  Wyoming  now  called 
Fremont  County.  Misnamed,  I  believe  would 
>e  a  fair  criticism,  that  honor  should  have 
Jeen  bestowed  on  Captain  Bonneville;  who 
pas  the  first  explorer  to  give  to  the  world, 
iy  the  graphic  pen  of  the  immortal  Irving, 
:he  first  and  most  vivid  picture  of  its  grand 
jeauty. 

It  was  perhaps  on  account  of  its  scenic 
charms  as  well  as  its  natural  advantages, 
is  a  hunting  country,  that  the  tribes  occupy- 
ng  it  made  such  strenuous  resistance  against 
jeing  driven  out.  The  prospectors  and  set- 
ters in  that  section  of  the  country,  that  the 
Captain  writes  of,  had  the  hot  end  of  the 
warfare;  as  they  had  the  Arapahoe  to  deal 
,vith  and  they  were  the  most  persistent  fight- 
ers of  all  the  Indian  tribes,  though  the  others 
A'ere  bad  enough  to  suit  any  one,  who  be- 
ieved  himself  gorged  with  a  combative  pro- 
pensity which  caused  him  to  love  fighting 
or  fighting's  sake. 

"Camping  on  ones  trail"  was  a  saying 
iften  used,  meaning  that  an  enemy  was  fol- 
pwing  with  his  soul  filled  with  an  unfriendly 
eeling.  Speaking  of  Arapahoes,  I  once 
leard.the  old  trapper,  James  Baker,  say — 
tiuMfio  man  knew  them  better — "one  of  the 
Itssed  varments  might  die  on  your  trail;  but 
le  would  never  camp." 

Relentless  and  cruel,  that  was  their  man- 
ler  of  warfare;  they  supposed  it  would  strike 
error  into  the  hearts  of  their  enemies.  It 
vas  the  same  with  the  aborigines  of  all  Coun- 
ries,  the.v  could  not  comprehend  the  white 
nan's  theory  that  savagery  must  give  away 
o  civilization.  After  many  years  of  fighting 
>ur  Government  concluded  that  it  was 
:heaper  to  support  than  to  fight  them;  but 
low  much  sense,  of  what  was  strictly  just, 
nfluenced  our  egotistical  law  makers  yet  re- 
nains  a  wild  guess. 

However  that  might  be — unto  all  who  rode 
he  hills  and  plains,  there  came  a  welcome 
eeling  of  relief:  when  we  could  leave  our 
funs  in  camp  and  follow  a  trail  to  the  top 
>f  a  hill  without  being  skewed  with  arrows 
—then  by  a  lance,  spitted,  like  the  prover- 
lial  fowl  for  the  roasting. 

The  Indians  did  not  have  the  same  feei- 
ng of  animosity  against  the  trappers,  al- 
hough  they  often  fought  them,  as  they  have 
.lways  felt  against  the  prospectors  and  set- 
lers.  The  trappers  were  more  of  their  way 
if  living,  mingled  with  them  and  were  friend- 
y  to  some  of  the  various  tribes;  they  also 
vcre  transient.  As  to  the  other  classes, 
hough,  the  Indians  had  the  perspicas  to  see 
vere  coming  to  stay  and  would  eventually 
leprive  them  of  all  that  made  their  lives 
^orth  living. 

An    old    time    writer,    wrote    a    book,    the 

oral  of  which  was:  "Before  you  judge 
vhether  the  other  fellow  is  right  or  wrong, 
ut  yourself  in  his  place."  Would  the  white 
nan  have  submitted  without  a  struggle? 

Generals  All!  They  were  taking  every 
(ossible  advantage  of  their  enemies,  super- 
titious  fears  often  contributed  to  their  de- 
cat;   but  they   never  lost  a   fight  from  lack 


ol  physical  courage  or  by  shirking  any  man- 
ner of  hardships. 

The  story  that  follows  happened  in  the 
year  of  1864,  if  memory  serves  me  rightlv, 
in  the  country  North  of  Fort  Laramie  which 
was  at  that  time  the  Indian  undisputed  ter- 
ritory. 

Told  at  a  camp  fire  at  old  Fort  Halleck. 
Dakota,  by  Robert  Foot  on  his  thirty-fourth 
birthday,  1808. 

In  relating  this  story  I  will  try  to  write 
it  as  nearly  in  his  own  words  as  I  remember 
them. 

"I,  a  Scotchman  born,  came  when  a  very 
young  man  to  this  Country;  enlisted  in  a 
cavalry  regiment  and  after  serving  the  three 
years  term,  was  discharged  at  Fort  Laramie." 

"During  that  time  I  had  saved  a  small 
sum  of  money;  had  learned  the  tailors  trade 
and  was  thereby  enabled  to  gather  in  some- 
thing more  than  what  my  soldiers  pay 
amounted  to." 

"After  I  was  discharged  I  had  accumulated 
quite  a  valuable  band  of  horses,  by  buying 
from  immigrants — stock  that  had  been  worn 
down  poor  on  the  trail  from  the  States.  "The 
grass  was  very  good  and  the  horses  soon 
got  in  good  condition,  so  that  I  could  trade 
them  for  more  thin  stock  with  outfits  coming 
later." 

"I  had  employed  a  half-breed,  whom  we 
all  considered  very  reliable,  to  herd  them 
just  outside  the  Government  Reservation  and 
had  every  reason  to  believe  that  I  had  a  fair 
chance  to  rake  in  a  horse  stake  in  the  next 
three  or  four  years."  But,  Alas!  As  Bobbie 
Burns  so  aptly  tells  it  —  "The  best  laid 
schemes  of  mice  and  men  aft  gang  astray" 
— "So  went  mine." 

"There  had  been  a  crowd  of  Coffee  Coolers 
camping  down  on  the  Rawhide  and  you  all 
know  what  they  are,  generally  harmless  beg- 
gars." "Unfortunately,  a  band  of  young 
bucks  had  joined  them  and  they  are  always 
the  sour  dough  that  raises  the  disturbance: 
the  result  was,  that  one  fine  evening  my 
horses  failed  to  come  in."  "The  half-breed 
had  crossed  the  river  with  all  my  property 
and  he,  together  with  the  whole  Indian  camp, 
had  faded  away:   their  trail  pointing  North." 

"By  the  time  I  could  get  an  outfit  together 
to  follow  they  had  two  days  start,  John 
Hunter  and  Tom  Maxwell  volunteering  to 
accompany  me."  "The  commander  of  the 
Fort  sending  a  squad  of  cavalry,  under  Ser- 
geant Herman  Hass,  with  orders  to  go  as 
far  as  the  Cheyenne  River  Valley." 

"We  reached  the  breaks  without  any  trou- 
ble or  adventure,  worth  the  telling,  and  by 
the  appearance  of  the  trail,  we  judged  that 
we  were  as  far  behind  as  when  we  started; 
as  the  soldiers  could  go  no  farther — orders 
must  be  obeyed — it  looked  like  a  hopeless 
task  for  three  men  to  undertake."  "Equipt 
as  we  were,  a  great  many  would  have  called 
it  a  fool  hardy  job — I  have  no  doubt." 

"An  Indian's  wealth  is  counted  by  the 
horses  he  owns:  he  will  go  through  hellfire 
to  get  or  keep  them  and  we  all  know,  that 
in  this  Country,  they  are  almost  a  necessity 
to  a  white  man's  existence— that  was  the  rea- 
son that  I  did  not  wish  to  give  up  the  chase 
at  this  stage  of  the  game."     "So  it  was  with 


56 


my  companions:  they  were  not  the  kind  of 
men  to  quit  as  our  friend  Athorp  speaks  it 
— If  Hell  howled  before  them." 

"With  many  good  wishes  for  our  success 
and  sincere  regrets  that  they  could  not  ac- 
company us  and  be  in  at  the  fight,  if  battle 
it  had  to  be,  Herman  and  his  troop  turned 
back  while  we  went  on."  I  suppose  there 
are  many  old  residents  in  Cheyenne  who  re- 
member him. 

"Two  days  and  a  half  travel,  before  we 
sighted  their  camp  —  about  a  mile  away." 
The  commotion,  the  sight  of  us  created  in 
their  camp,  was  proof  that  they  did  not  ex- 
pect to  be  followed. 

"Half  a  mile  farther  on  the  half-breed 
came  out  to  meet  us;  his  tale  of  woe  was 
that  the  young  men  had  taken  the  horses 
and  himself  with  them.  When  asked  would 
the  Indians  give  the  horses  up — he  replied 
by  asking — how  many  soldiers  behind?  "We 
asked,  why  you  think  we  got  soldiers  with 
us?  He  said — you  no  carry  guns,  only  big 
pistols."  We  did  not  give  him  any  satisfac- 
tion on  that  point;  but  told  him  that  the  old 
men  had  been  about  the  Fort  many  seasons; 
had  always  been  well  treated  and  if  they 
made  any  trouble,  could  not  come  there 
again.  They  would  have  to  give  back  my 
property  and  make  no  more  trouble.  He 
only  shook  his  head  and  said  —  too  many 
young  men.  They  want  horses,  then  added, 
me  go  back — make  talk —  If  give  back,  I 
make  sign,  come  on — if  no  make  sign.  Go 
back,  too  many  for  you  to  fight." 

"Hunter  thought  it  possible  that  the  half- 
breed  had  told  the  Indians  that  he  owned 
the  horses:  if  that  was  the  case  the  old  men 
would  be  inclined  to  be  friendly  and  if  he 
could  get  in  among  them,  he  could  induce 
them  to  give  the  stock  up;  but  it  would 
mostly  depend  on  how  many  young  bucks 
were   in   the   camp." 

"Hunter  had  an  Indian  wife  and  family 
and  had  been  a  long  time  among  them.  The 
whole  Sioux  tribe  knew  him  to  be  a  man 
who  always  spoke  the  truth  and  neither 
feared  man,  beast  nor  evil  spirit.  They  also 
fully  and  faithfully  believed  that  neither  gun, 
spear,  arrow,  nor  any  weapon  they  pos- 
sessed could  harm  him.  All  this,  we  banked 
as  a  great  deal  in  our  favor." 

"However,  in  about  an  hour  an  Indian 
rode  out  and  gave  the  sign  to  come  in. 
Hunter  suggested,  as  we  rode  in,  that  we 
keep  our  hand  on  a  gun  and  if  they  mean 
treachery — to  charge  straight  through,  shoot- 
ing as  we  went.  Getting  through,  we  could 
find  shelter  where  we  could  stand  them  off." 

"And  that  was  just  what  happened.  We 
all  got  through  alive  and  must  have  done 
them  some  damage,  in  return  for  what  they 
did  to  us — which  surely  was  enough.  Tom 
and  I  each  got  two  arrows — Hunters  with 
his  usual  luck,  untouched,  though  one  young 
buck  took  a  shot  at  him  with  a  rifle  at  a  dis- 
tance of  not  more  than  thirty  feet.  The  fail- 
ure of  the  shot  stopped  the  attack  for  the 
time  being,  otherwise — I  think — we  would 
have  been  as  full  of  arrows  as  an  old  sage- 
hen  is  of  feathers." 

"Near  a  quarter  of  a  mile  away,  we  dove 
into    a    patch    of    willows;    across    a    shallow 


chalky  stream  that  bent  around  under  the 
lea  of  a  clay  butte,  which  was  near  enough 
perpendicular  that  it  could  not  be  climbed. 
It  would  have  been  a  perfect  place  for  de- 
fence, only  for  a  pass  through  the  middle 
of  the  butte  made  by  the  water  at  flood 
times  and  the  wash  from  the  Platte,  beyond, 
had  made  an  open  space  in  front." 

"We  got  rid  of  the  arrows  and  dressed  our 
wounds  as  best  we  could.  The  one  I  got 
in  my  neck  came  within  a  small  fraction  of 
an  inch  of  being  fatal,  but  the  other  did  not 
do  much  damage.  I  had  learned  something 
of  surgery,  while  in  the  army,  and  it  came 
in  handy,  otherwise  our  wounds  might  have 
been  dangerous.  But  they  soon  became  sore 
enough  to  suit  the  fiendish  expectation  of  our 
enemies,  whom  we  had  to  prepare  to  fight." 

"The  gap,  through  where  the  draw  emptied 
into  our  retreat,  was  narrow.  We  joined 
three  logs  and  laid  them  across  it,  not  much 
of  a  fortification,  but  we  thought  it  might 
help." 

"One  piece  of  good  luck  we  had  our  pack 
horses — packs  came  through  without  a 
scratch  and  by  the  time  we  had  eaten  our 
cold  bread  and  meat,  Hunter  had  figured  out 
what  would  happen.  First  they  would  do 
some  scouting  to  see  if  there  were  any  sol- 
diers coming — and  satisfied  on  that  score,, 
if  they  did  make  an  attack,  it  would  be  about 
an  hour  before  sun  down.  Then  if  they 
found  us  all  able  to  fight,  it  would  be  mostly 
a  bluff;  but  to  get  our  four  horses,  they 
would  consider  it  worth  an  attempt.  It  would 
probably  be,  by  the  old  men  in  front  making 
a  wild  demonstration  to  draw  our  attention, 
while  the  young  bucks  slipped  in  on  us 
through  the  pass.  But  if  they  did  not  suc- 
ceed in  killing  one  of  us,  which  they  might 
accidentally  do  with  their  old  rifle,  it  would 
all  end  in  a  few  minutes." 

"They  could  not  get  an  arrow  through  the 
willows  at  short  range,  if  they  got  that  close 
and  our  old  dragoon  pistols  are  much  longer 
range  than  their  bows.  Our  only  danger 
will  be  from  that  young  buck's  rifle  and  if 
one  of  us  should  be  unlucky  enough  to  get- 
his  last  call,  he  must  hold  his  breath  until 
he  gets  out  of  their  sight,  before  he  drops. 
I  think  either  of  us  has  nerve  enough  to  do 
that.  I  once  shot  an  antelope  through  the 
heart  and  he  ran  a  hundred  vards  before  he , 
fell." 

"If  they  have  no  success  on  their  first  at- 
tack, they  will  let  us  alone  and  after  dark 
we  can  ride  away,  just  as  if  there  was  not 
an  Indian  within  a  hundred  miles." 

"The  attack  began  as  Hunter  had  predict- 
ed, like  a  clap  of  thunder  out  of  a  clear  sky. 
Dashing  around  the  front,  sending  their  ar- 
rows from  under  their  horses  necks.  None? 
reached  the  willows,  over  which  Tom  and 
I  responded,  doing  damage  to  their  ponies 
with  some  careful  shots.  Although  we  had 
twenty  four  in  our  guns,  we  did  not  care 
to  waste  any.  Hunter  was  guarding  the 
gap  in  the  butte.  Suddenly  the  Indians  in 
front  made  a  dash  as  if  they  were  intending 
to  charge  the  works,  shooting  arrows  into 
the  willows.  We  got  in  some  good  work 
and  stopped  them  by  droping  six  ponies." 

"While  that  was  going  on  in  front,  a  party 


57 


M  young  bucks  came  in  at  the  head  of  the 
feass.  Hunter  opened  on  them  with  a  shot 
from  each  of  his  guns,  while  they  thought 
they  were  almost  out  of  range,  which  caused 
them  to  stop  and  dodge  around.  Then  he 
jumped  on  the  logs  and  began  shooting  with 
first  one  hand  and  then  the  other.  Just  as 
I  got  there  to  help,  the  buck  with  a  rifle 
sent  a  bullet  through  his  heart.  He  stood 
there  and  fired  the  two  last  shots  from  his 
guns,  jumped  backward  oft"  the  log  and  walk- 
ed behind  the  brush,  where  he  fell  dead.  The 
Indians  believing  that  the  shot  had  missed, 
gave  up  the  game  and  we  saw  no  more  of 
them." 

"After  darkness  had  kindly  spread  its  man- 
tle over  all,  we  packed  Hunter's  body  on  his 
horse.  Then  rode  out,  up  the  gulch  and 
onto  the  plain.  Keeping  as  direct  a  course 
as  possible  toward  the  South,  till  we  judged 
we  had  put  eight  or  ten  miles  between  us 
and   the   scene   of  our   discomfiture." 

"The   moon   was    up    high   enough   to   give 
us   light.      With   our   small   camp   shovel,   we 
made   a   grave   and   laid   the   remains   of   our 
friend  down  into  the  bosom  of  Mother  Earth. 
Covered    and    obliterated   .every    trace    of    a 
Brave   and    when    the   weary   task   was    done, 
looked   down    upon   it   for   a   time.      Tom   re- 
3esrt«fl  from  the  burial  of  Sir  John  Moore: 
No  useless  coffin  enclosed  his  breast 
Not  in  robe  or  shroud  we  wound  him, 
But  he  lay  like  a  warrior  taking  his  rest 
With   his  martial  cloak  around   him. 

"As  we  silently  rode  away  I  thought  of 
he  one  we  had  left  behind  and  how  his  many 
riends  would  miss  him.  I  wondered  if  death 
s  the  end  of  all  that  is?  If  we  live  again, 
iver  in  the  Great  Beyond,  then  our  heroic 
riend  is  there,  with  all  the  great  that  have 
jpnie  before.  Where  no  king  can  claim  the 
ight  to  wear  brighter  jewels  in  his  crown 
han  lie." 

"It    was    a    toilsome    journey    back    to    the 

ort,  but  we  got  in  about  as  near  dead  as 
wo  men  could,  and  still  live.  We  were  con- 
igned  to  the  hospital  for  six  long,  weary 
veeks  and  after  we  got  out  neither  Tom  nor 
nyself,  seemed  to  feel  ourselves  of  much  ac- 
ount." 

"Some  time  after,  I  was  lying  down  on  a 
unk  in  my  cabin,  when  my  half-breed  walk- 
cl  in.  He  had  no  weapon,  but  a  knife  in 
is  belt  and  as  he  stood  in  the  middle  of  the 
oom,  he  smote  on  his  breast  and  said,  "Me 
ood   Indian!" 

'An  old  horse  pistol  lay  on  the  stand  be- 
ide  me,  I  grabed  it  up  and  let  him  have  the 
ontents.  ^  Then  I  said,  you  are  a  good  In- 
ian  now." 

"The  Post-commander  said,  that  is  a  little 
jo  rough  and  locked  me  up  in  the  guard 
ouse.  I  stayed  there  till  Colonel  Moon- 
ght  came  with  a  Kansas  regiment  and  took 
omrnand  of  the  Fort.  He  turned  me  out 
fid  indorsed  my  claim  against  the  Govern- 
ieiit  of  indemnity,  for  the  loss  of  my  prop- 
rty,  which  was  paid  by  making  me  post- 
•ader  here.  It  was  better,  perhaps,  for  me 
lan  a  cash  payment,  as  claims  against  the 
Government,  if  paid  at  all,  are  delayed  many 
ears." 

"And    now,   boys,   allow   me    to   thank   you 


for   being  what   every   story   teller  admires — 
Rood  listeners,  I  will  end  the  story  here  " 
(Signed)     EDWARD   ORDWAY,   SR., 

Castroville,  California, 
10-29-24.     

NECROLOGY 

Outstanding  in  the  annals  of  the  year  1(^24 
is  the  passing  into  the  larger  fuller  life  of 
two  of  our  most  distinguished  citizens,  the 
Honorable  Joseph  Maul  Carey  and  William 
Bradford  Ross. 

Early  on  the  morning  of  October  the  sec- 
ond the  sorrowful  message  was  flashed  over 
the  wires  that  William  Bradford  Ross,  Gov- 
ernor of  the  State  of  Wyoming,  had  an- 
swered the  call.  The  entire  State  was  plung- 
ed into  grief.  On  Tuesday,  September  the 
twenty-third,  Governor  Ross  addressed  a 
large  audience  in  Laramie  and  made  a  vig- 
orous plea  for  what  he  believed  would  be 
for  the  best  commercial  interests  of  the  State. 
This  was  his  last  appearance  in  public.  A 
few  hours  later  he  returned  to  the  Executive 
Mansion  in  Cheyenne  and  on  Thursday  was 
removed  to  Memorial  Hospital  and  an"  oper- 
ation was  performed  for  acute  appendicitis. 
He  survived  the  ordeal  but  a  week.  He  en- 
tered into  rest  surrounded  by  his  loved  ones. 
Of  the  beauty  and  sanctity  of  his  home  life 
we  need'  not  speak. 

Mr.  Ross  had  served  in  the  capacity  of 
Governor  but  twenty-one  months  but  his 
short  administration  was  characterized  by 
honor  and  zeal  in  the  faithful  discharge  of 
his  duties.  He  met  the  problems  of  his  ex- 
alted station  with  buoyancy  and  optimism. 
He  was  deeply  interested  in  the  issues  of  the 
day  and  above  all  else  was  intensely  human; 
he  forgot  no  friend  and  no  station  in  life  was 
too  lowly  to  commend  his  sympathy.  These 
qualities  endeared  him  to  the  people  and 
caused  them  to  think  of  him  more  perhaps, 
as  a  friend,  but  without  any  lack  of  esteem 
for  him  as  their  Chief  Executive. 

Governor  Ross  was  a  communicant  in  the 
Episcopal  Church;  a  member  of  the  Masonic 
fraternit\  and  a  charter  member  of  the 
Young  Men's  Literary  Club.  He  was  a 
lawyer  by  profession  and  in  politics  he  was 
a  Democrat.  He  was  born,  reared  and  edu- 
cated in  Tennessee  but  when  a  young  man 
cast  his  lot  in  Wyoming,  where  by  force  of 
character  and  personality  he  won  his  way  to 
the  distinguished  position  he  was  occupying 
when  his  career  was  so  lamentablv  and  so 
suddenly  ended.  It  is  hard  for  the  finite 
mind  to  comprehend  that  one  so  filled  with 
the  joy  of  living  a  clean,  wholesome  life,  in 
the  full  vigor  of  manhood  and  his  sun  still 
high  in  the  heavens,  should  have  finished  his 
earthly  work.  With  faith  that  life  is  a  con- 
tinuity, 

"]   cannot  say,  and  I  will  not  say. 
That  he  is  dead.     He  is  just  away." 

"With    a    cheery    smile,    and    a    wave    of    the 

hand, 
He  has  wandered  into  an  unknown  land." 
****** 

"Think  of  him  still  as  the  same  I  say: 
He  is  not  dead;  he  is  just  away." 

— State  Historian. 


ss 


In  Memoriam 
i  Joseph  Maull  Carey 

LL.  D. 

"Jost'i)h  Maull  Carey  was  born  at  Milton, 
Delaware,  on  January  19,  1845,  and  died  at 
his  residence  in  Cheyenne,  Wyoming,  on 
February  5,  1924.  After  pursuing  a  course 
of  study  at  Union  College,  he  graduated  in 
1864  from  the  University  of  Pennsylvania 
with  the  degree  of  LL.  B.,  and  in  1894  re- 
ceived the  degree  of  LL.  D.  from  Union  Col- 
lege. He  was  admitted  to  the  bar  in  1867, 
practiced  for  two  years  in  Philadelphia,  and 
in  1869  removed  to  the  newly  created  terri- 
tory of  Wyoming,  having  been  appointed  the 
first  United  States  Attorney  for  that  Terri- 
tory. In  1872  he  was  appointed  Justice  of 
the  Supreme  Court  of  tbe  Territory,  and 
served  as  such  until  early  in  1876.  Having 
in  the  meantime  become  interested  in  the 
cattle  growing  industry  and  in  the  real  estate 
business,  he  did  not  thereafter  continue  the 
practice  of  law.  He  was  Mayor  of  'Cheyenne 
four  years,  from  January,  1881,  until  1885; 
represented  said  Territory  as  a  delegate  in 
the  49th  to  the  51st  Congresses,  and  was  the 
author  of  and  introduced  the  bill  which  ad- 
mitted Wyoming  to  statehood,  and  of  the 
act  for  the  reclamation  of  arid  lands  in  the 
West  known  as  "The  Carey  Act;"  was  elect- 
ed United  States  Senator  by  the  first  State 
Legislature  and  served  until  the  expiration 
of  his  term  in  March,  1895;  was  elected  Gov- 
ernor of  Wyoming  at  the  general  election 
of  1910  and  served  out  the  term  of  four 
years.  From  1876  until  1896,  he  was  the 
Wyoming  member  of  the  Republican  Na- 
tional Committee.  From  1872  until  1876,  he 
was  a  member  of  the  United  States  Cen- 
tennial Commission.  After  retiring  from  the 
office  of  Governor,  he  became  the  Vice- 
President  of  the  Federal  Land  Bank  of 
Omaha,  and  also  served  a  term  as  Trustee 
of  the  University  of  Wyoming." 

At  a  meeting  of  the  Supreme  Court  Chief 
Justice  Potter  said: 

"This  court  was  honored  by  the  service  of 
Judge  Carey  as  one  of  its  justices.  He  gave 
to  the  people  in  that  office  able  and  faithful 
service.  He  is  remembered  more,  however, 
for  his  contribution  to  the  later  life  and  his- 
tory of  Wyoming  and  the  nation.  It  can 
have  come  into  the  life  of  but  few  men  to 
have  served  a  community  and  a  common- 
wealth in  as  manj'  different  official  capacities 
and  during  so  long  and  continuous  a  period 
as  has  distinguished  the  life  of  Judge  Carey; 
and  then  finally  to  spend  the  remaining  and 
declining  years  of  his  life  in  that  community 
and  commonwealth  as  its  most  distinguished 
private  citizen.  It  was  the  distinction  of 
Judge  Carey  not  only  to  have  served  in  of- 
ficial capacities,  first  as  United  States  At- 
torney for  the  district  of  Wyoming,  com- 
mencing with  its  organization  as  a  territory, 
then  as  Justice  of  the  Supreme  Court  of  the 
Territory,  and  successively  thereafter  as 
Mayor  of  his  city,  Territorial  delegate  in 
Congress,  and  United  States  Senator  from 
the  State  upon  its  admission,  and  then,  after 
the  intermission  of  a  few  years,  as  Governor 
of  the  State  for  a  term  of  four  years;  but  he 


was  also  a  pioneer  and  leader  in  the  develop- 
ment of  the  productive  resources  of  the  Ter- 
ritory and  State.  He  was  among  the  first 
to  envisage  the  capabilities  of  the  natural 
grasses  of  the  State  for  the  growing  of  cat- 
tle and  other  live  stock,  and  the  productivity 
of  the  soil  through  intensive  irrigation.  And 
through  the  greater  part  of  his  life  he  re- 
mained interested  in  such  development, 
through  the  investment  of  his  own  means 
and  encouragement  through  the  efforts  of 
his  public  service,  as  evidenced  by  the  act 
of  Congress  known  as  the  'Carey  Act."  But 
I  desire  to  emphasize  on  this  occasion  the 
fact  that  he  was  distinguished  and  brought 
distinction  to  the  State  also  by  the  high  type 
of  his  character  as  a  man  and  citizen.  The 
unimpeachable  uprightness  of  his  character 
has  always  and  everywhere  been  recognized. 
He  was  the  soul  of  honor  to  as  full  an  ex- 
tent as  that  can  be  said  of  any  one.  It  was 
my  good  fortune  to  have  known  him  for 
nearly  forty-eight  years,  having  arrived  here 
within  a  very  short  time  after  he  had  vacated 
his  judicial  office.  He  was  then  an  unmarried 
man;  and  then  and  ever  since  the  purity  of 
his  life,  the  honesty  of  his  purpose,  and  his 
line  conception  of  the  higher  and  better 
standards  of  human  life  necessary  to  a  high 
quality  of  manhood  and  citizenship  were 
notable  and  brought  to  him  the  high  esteem 
and  profound  respect  of  the  public.  Unlike 
many  who  have  achieved  success  in  a  west- 
ern community,  he  determined  not  to  seek 
the  supposedly  fairer  climes  in  which  to 
spend  the  declining  years  of  his  life,  but  to 
remain  in  the  commonwealth  and  the  city 
with  the  upbuilding  of  which  he  had  given 
so  much  of  his  time  and  thought,  and  where, 
though  without  recognition  on  his  part,  his 
character  and  the  record  of  his  life  con- 
tinued to  be  a  shining  example.  And  that, 
we  may  be  sure,  will  not  be  dimmed  so  long 
as  the  record  of  his  life  and  achievements 
shall  remain  to  be  read  or  known  to  men  in 
this  growing  commonwealth." 

On  January  28th,  Wyoming  lost  one  of 
her  best  known  pioneers,  Mr.  Michael  Henry. 
Mr.  Henry  came  to  Wyoming  in  1855.  He 
had  led  a  very  active  life;  had  been  bugler 
in  the  army,  an  Indian  fighter,  cowboy,  pio- 
neer ranchman,  coal  operator,  bank  president 
and  closely  identified  with  the  upbuilding  of- 
Wyoming.  He  passed  away  at  his  home  in 
Douglas  at   the   age  of   eighty-three. 

Mr.  Skovgard  of  Basin  passed  away  in 
May.  Mr.  Skovgard  came  to  Wyoming  in 
1909  and  rose  rapidly  to  the  ranks  of  promi- 
nent men  in  Wyoming.  Mr.  Skovgard  served 
in  the  State  Senate  for  twelve  years. 

Hiram  B.  Kelly  crossed  Wyoming  in  '49 
by  way  of  .Oregon  Trail.  Miner,  freighter, 
bullwhacker,  Indian  fighter,  mail  carrier, 
stage  driver  and  stockman.  One  of  the  most 
resourceful,  successful,  highly  respected  men 
that  ever  helped  to  develop  this  western 
country.      Came  to  Wyoming  in   1857. 

On  June  10th,  Mrs.  Mentzer,  wife  of  form- 
er District  Judge  W.  C.  Mentzer,  died  sud- 
denly at  her  home  after  a  short  illness  from 
heart  trouble.  Mrs.  Mentzer  was  prominenl 
in  religious,  civic  and  social  circles.     She  had 


)ccn  actively  identified  with  all  activities  that 
lad  their  basic  principles  in  the  betterment 
_>f  human  conditions. 

Mr.  W.  C.  Irvine,  affectionately  known  as 
'Billy  Irvine,"  passed  away  in  California, 
liter  a  lingering  illness  from  diabetes.  Mr. 
Irvine  came  to  Wyoming  in  1873,  from  that 
:ime  until  his  death  on  July  27th,  1924,  his 
leart  and  his  interests  were  in  Wyoming. 
His  body  reposes  in  the  family  plot  in  Lake- 
/icw  Cemetery,  Cheyenne.  United  States 
senator  John  B.  Kendrick  commenting  on 
he  passing  of  Mr.  Irvine  said,  "He  was  un- 
excelled in  man}'  ways.  In  courage,  both 
ihysical  and   moral,   in   devotion   and  loyalty 

0  his  friends,  he  was  beyond  compare." 
"Buck"   Taylor,    Indian    fighter,    scout   and 

lowboy  and  a  member  of  Buffalo  Bill's  Wild 
pest  show,  died  in  Pennsylvania  of  pneu- 
nonia. 

Ezra  L.  Emery  was  one  of  the  most  popu- 
ar  and  widely  known  men  in  the  State.  He 
vas  an  early  advocate  for  good  roads.  He 
lied  suddenly  while  on  a  motor  trip  with  his 
fife. 

The  following  early  settlers  came  to  Wyo- 
ning  previous  to  1886,  and  died  in  1924: 

Cunningham,  Agnes.  Came  to  Rock 
>.p*ings  in  1878. 

Middlewood.     Came  to  Saratoga  in  1882. 

Sweet,  Thomas  P.  Pioneer  of  Weston 
Bounty.     Came  to  Newcastle  1880. 

Beneway,  George  C,  Sheridan.  Guard  at 
illing  of  President  Lincoln. 

Wolfe,  William  W.,  Lusk,  1850.  Early 
rapper  and  fur  trader.  Pioneer  in  three 
tates.     Age,  ninety-three. 

Bloom,  Mrs.  A.  M.,   Laramie,   1869. 

Stotts,  Judge  J.  L.  Pioneer  Judge  of  Sheri- 
an  Judicial  District. 

Bryan,  Ted.     Pioneer  cowboy,  Rock  River. 

Bryan,  Zach.     Pioneer  freighter,  Casper. 

King,  Frank,  Buffalo.     Freighter. 

Morganson,  James.  Pioneer  of  Evanston. 
_  Street,  George  B.  One  of  the  last  Pony 
pcpress  riders,  Arvada. 

Bernard,  H.  H.  Pioneer  since  1879,  Rock 
prings. 

Zane,  Lou  A.     Pioneer  since  1880,  Basin. 

Peak,  Mrs.  Wilson.  Pioneer  woman  of 
lig  Horn   County. 

Ellis,  Mrs.  Helen  Foote.  Arrived  at  Fort 
lalleck  in  1873,  interesting  pioneer  life,  Elk 
fountain. 

Lavergne,  Felix.  Much  to  do  with  the  up- 
uilding  of  Weston  County. 

Whalev,   W.   T.      One  of   the   first   settlers 

1  the   Shell   Creek  Valley. 

Taylor,  R.  E.  Pioneer  since  1865,  Kem- 
lerer. 

McGibbon,  James.  Oldest  engineer  in  the 
?rvice  of  the  Union   Pacific,   Laramie. 

Murphy,  Wm.  H.  Operated  first  thresh- 
lg  machine  in  this  part  of  the  country, 
Guernsey. 

Keating,  Patrick  J.  Pioneer  of  Black  Hills 
ays,  Casper. 

Higgins,  Mrs.  J.  E.  Pioneer  resident  of 
denrock. 

Biever,  Jacob.  Veteran  railroader  of  Sheri- 
an. 

China  Joe.     Survivor  of  Chinese  riots;  his- 


59 


torical    figure   of    Sweetwater    County,    Rock 

Springs. 

Jones,  Jack,  who  recalls  Sheridan's  earliest 
days. 

Neville,  J.  H.  Pioneer  of  Big  Horn  Coun- 
ty, Basin.     Served  in  Legislatures. 

Mayden,  John  E.  Resident  of  Platte  Val- 
ley since  1886,  Rawlins. 

Nelson,  Judge  A.  M.  Pioneer  citizen  of 
Weston   County. 

Bertolette,  Mrs.  Sylvia.  Pioneer  of  Doug- 
las since  1880. 

Shippen,  John   N.,   Manville. 

Rex,   Alfred   George,   Evanston,   1872. 

Jacobson,  Mary,  Laramie. 

Cooper,  Mrs.  Mary,  Cheyenne,  1867. 

McFarland,  John,  ranking  pioneer  of  Platte 
county,  arrived  in  1866. 

MacFarlane,  Peter,  Wheatland,  1882. 
Served  in  Legislature;  active  in  creating 
Platte  County. 

Baldwin,  M.  N.  First  white  child  on  Wind 
River;    lived   in    Wyoming  61    years. 

Muir,   Matt.,   Sr.,  Rock  Springs,   1876. 

Blake,  J.   A.,  Sheridan. 

Blair,  Thomas  H.,  Manville. 

Porter,  Lewis  J.  Native  in  Wyoming,  born 
July  2,  1852,  at  Fort  Halleck. 

Naismith,  W.  J.  Oldest  employee  of  the 
Union  Pacific  on  the  Wyoming"  Division, 
Laramie. 

Trollope,  Mrs.  Mary  C.  Married  by  Bill 
Nye  in  Laramie  store  1877;  dies  at  home  in 
Casper. 

Tinkham,  Frank,  Douglas. 

Solomon,  Mrs.  Sophia,  Cheyenne. 

Cahill,   Patrick,  Cheyenne. 

Farr,  J.  H,  Laramie. 

Arnold,  Mrs.  Mary  S.,  Wheatland. 

Bartlett,  Mr.  Lige,  Kemmerer. 

Love,  Mrs.  John,  Rock  Springs. 

Rogers,  Mrs.  Philinda,  Hudson. 

Mahoney,   Mrs.,  Cheyenne. 

Campbell,  A.  D.,  Rawlins. 

Long,    Mr.   James,   Sr.,    Rock   Springs. 

Dougherty,  Mary,  was  a  Civil  War  nurse, 
came  to  Wyoming  in  1876,  Laramie. 

Woods,  William,  engineer  for  the  Union 
Pacific  nearly  fifty  years,  Laramie. 

Redman,  Mrs.  M.  T.,  pioneer  of  Buffalo 
since  1882. 

Baker,  Charles  S.  Pioneer  of  Uinta  Coun- 
ty, Evanston,  1878. 

Johnson,  Mrs.  Bertha.  Pioneer'of  Laramie 
City  since  1884. 

Thompson,  Joseph,   Rock   Springs,    1882. 
Johnson,  Mrs.  J.  S.  E.,  Kemmerer;  came  to 
Wyoming  in  1881. 

Younts,  Harry.  Came  to  Wyoming  1866, 
Wheatland. 

Burnett,  Mrs.  F.  G.  Came  to  South  Pass 
1865. 

Steers,  Mrs.  Razalia,  Wind  River.  Came 
to  Wyoming  1863  over  Oregon  Trail  to 
Green   River. 

Spearing,  Mr.  John.  Freighter  into  Buf- 
falo in  1878. 

James,  Joseph  Paul.  Trapper,  cowboy, 
1879;  died  at  Bar  C  Ranch. 

Powell,     George,     Douglas.       Bullwhackcr, 


60 


Indian  fighter,  1865;  one  of  the  best  known 
and  highly  respected  men  in  the  State. 

Argesheimer,  Airs.  Harriet  L.  Passed  away 
in  California  at  the  age  of  87;  she  had  been 
a  resident  of  Wyoming  for  35  years.  She 
came  to  Fort  Russell  in  1875,  her  husband, 
Captain  Argesheimer,  being  at  that  time  at- 
tached to  the  Third  Cavalry. 

Howard,  Jennie.  Comparatively  few  of 
those  in  Cheyenne  not  of  the  "old  time"  ele- 
ment knew  Jennie  Howard  save  by  sight. 
She   was   worth   knowing.      In   adversity,   in- 


digence,  she  was  cheerful,  optimistic. — Chey 
enne  Tribune. 

Conway,  Mrs.  Emma  J.  Came  to  Chey 
enne  in  1872.  Hers  was  the  gracious  dignit} 
of  highbred  womanhood  of  a  period  tha 
ended  ere  those  of  the  now  dominant  gener 
ation  were  born. — Cheyenne  Tribune. 

Shepperson,  Mrs.  J.  L.  Died  suddenly  a' 
her  home  in  Casper  in  September.  Mrs 
Shepperson  was  a  native  daughter  and  wa: 
an  active  member  of  the  State  Historica 
Societv. 


ACCESSIONS  FROM  OCTOBER  1st  TO  DECEMBER  31st,  1924 

Documents 
Received  from 

Moore,   Mr.    Lee Order  to  Denver  Marble  &  Granite  Co.,  for  George  W.  Pike 

Monument. 

Bonser,  Mr.  W.  A Three  receipts. 

Historical  Books 

Hooker,  Mr.  W.  F "The  Bull  Whacker,"  by  Mr.  Hooker. 

Dale,  Mr.  E.  E "The  Ranchman's  Last  Frontier,"   E.   E.   Dale. 

"The   Cherokee  Strip  Live  Stock  Association,"   E.   E.   Dale. 
"Outline  and  References  for  Oklahoman  History,"  Dale  and 
Wardell. 

Farthing,  Mr.  Charles  Mitchell's  School  Geography,   1850,  contains  one   1849  mai 

of  U.  S.   (  Loaned). 

Watson,  Air.  Elmo  Scott "Famous  Forts  in  United  States  History." 

Letters 

Wagner,    Henry,    Sr 

Chaplin,  W.   E 

Original  Manuscript 

Bonser,    W.    A One  original  manuscript. 

Two  letters. 

Ordway,   Edward,   Sr One  original  manuscript. 

Museum 

Watts,  Air.  A.  E Two  Tandem  whips  used  in  1880  by  Air.  and  Airs.  Paul  O 

Brewster. 
One  Tandem  whip  used  in  1880  by  John  D.  Gill. 
One  pocketbook  made  from  old  fashioned  boottop  and  given 
to   A.    R.    Converse  by  Buffalo   Bill  about   1882,  shows 
much  wear. 

Aiyers,  Mr.  Ed One   French  road  map. 

Mathes,   Mr One  Friedman  brace. 

Bonser,  Mr.  W.  A One  prospector's  scales  used  by  Smith  Bonser  for  weighing 

gold   dust   during  the   Black   Hills   gold  excitement. 
One  picture  of  Air.  and  Mrs.   Smith  Bonser. 
One    framed    commencement    Program    of    Chevenne    High 

School,  June,  1880. 
One  Republican  ticket. 
One  Roosevelt  badge. 

Hebard,  Dr.  G.  R One  Muslin   Laramie  County  Republican  Ticket,  date   1888 

Farthing,  Mr.  Charles Collection  from  south  of  Iron  Mountain  of  flint  arrows  anc 

one-half  ox  shoes. 

Gordon,  Air.  Peter,  Jr One   gun   found   on   Ham's   Fork   River  at   crossing  of   Ok 

Lander  Trail,  in  August,  1893;  one  Indian  mortar;  one 
Indian  war  club;  three  knives:  one  bayonet;  two  speai 
heads;  one  old  cornet;  collection  of  sixteen  guns;  oik 
human  finger  petrified. 

Preiss  Alurchand,  Airs.  V.  E Butterflies,  insects  and  flowers.     (Loaned.) 

Aloore,  Mr.  Lee. Picture  of  George  W.  Pike  monument  in  Douglas  cemetery 

Kirkpatrick,  Mrs.  J.  A Large  picture  of  Senator  F.  E.  Warren. 

War  History 
Beach,   Airs.   Cora   Al Bulletin   No.  4,   A.   L.   A.      Proceedings  of   Annual   Conven- 
tion of  the  A.  L.  A.,  vols.  1,2,  3. 
Purchased 
Scribner's  Alonthly  Magazine,  Alay-October,  1875. 
Wyoming  State  Business  Director,  Volume  21. 
Autographed,    Illustrated    Copy    of    "Uinta    County;    Its    Place   in    History,"   by    Elizabetl 
Arnold  Stone. 

Newspapers 
Wyoming  State  Labor  Journal. .Bound  Volumes,  1919-20-21-22-23. 


C%L^—+-^— ^s 


HISTORICAL  DEPARTMENT 


QUARTERLY  BULLETIN 


Vol.  2 


Cheyenne,  April  15,  1925 


No.  4 


ARMY  CHAPLAINS 

Prior  to  the  Civil  war  but  little  was  known 
about  the  work  and  place  of  Army  Chap- 
lains in  this  country.  Our  regular  army  was 
little  more  than  a  skeleton  organization.  A 
regiment  was  rarely  all  in  one  place.  Small 
battalions  were  doing  garrison  duty  or  were 
on  outpost  service.  There  were  post  chap- 
lains at  a  very  few  stations  where  military 
needs  required  the  gathering  of  a  goodly 
number  of  soldiers.  A  standard  military  dic- 
tionary of  that  time  defined  a  chaplain  "as  "a 
commissioned  officer  or  clergyman  who  per- 
forms divine  service."  According  to  army 
regulations  a  chaplain  was  .entitled  to  the  pay 
aii*dTrations  of  a  captain  of  cavalry;  but  that 
provision  did  not  indicate  his  rank,  his  sphere 
or  his  duties.     The  only  specific  utterance  on 

this  point  in  the  articles  of  war  was,  that  a  I  obtained  until  the  reorganization  of  the  army 
chaplain  could  be  court-martialed  "like  any  February  2,  1901,  when  provision  was  again 
other  officer     in  case  of  a  misdemeanor.  made  for  chaplains  for  each  regiment  of  in- 

With  the  formation  of  the  great  volunteer  J  fantry,  thirty,  each  regiment  of  cavalry,  fif- 
army  of  the  United  States,  the  regimental  teen,  and  twelve  for  the  artillery  corps.  A 
chaplaincy  was  provided  for  and  very  quickly  '■  total  of  fifty-seven.  There  are  now  several 
sprang  into  prominence.  H.  Clay  Trumbull,  |  vacancies,  five  I  think.  The  law  provided 
who  was  Chaplain  of  the  Tenth  Conn.  Volun-  j  that  a  chaplain  shall  have  the  rank,  pay,  privi- 
tcers,  tells  us  in  a  little  volume  he  has  pre-  j  leges,  and  allowances,  of  a  captain  and  shall 


dier's  life.  Nor  were  those  who  died  during 
the  war  the  only  chaplains  who  won  honor 
or  who  deserve  it.  Many  a  chaplain  who  did 
good  service  then  has  shown  in  other  prom- 
inent spheres  since  then  that  he  was  the  sort 
to  serve  faithfully  his  fellows,  his  country, 
and  his  God,  wherever  his  lot  was  cast.  I 
have  already  mentioned  H.  Clay  Trumbull, 
editor  of  the  S.  S.  Times.  Let  me  include 
Archbishop  John  Ireland  of  St.  Paul,  General 
John  Eaton,  United  States  Commissioner  of 
Education,  Bishop  Lawrence  McMahon  of 
Hartford,  Bishop  C.  C.  McCabe,  Dr.  Samuel 
J.  Nichols  of  St.  Louis,  Dr.  Arthur  Edwards 
of  Chicago,  editor  of  the  North  Western 
Christian  Advocate. 

At  the  close  of  the  war  the  office  of  regi- 
mental chaplain  was  abolished  and  post  chap- 
lains were  again  appointed  and  this  condition 


pared  of  personal  recollections,  that  many 
new  chaplains  adopted  the  uniform  of  a  cap- 
tain of  cavalry,  with  the  shoulder  straps, 
sash  and  cord  included.  In  a  number  of  in- 
stances the  position  was  given  to  irreligious 
laymen  as  a  mere  matter  of  favor  to  the 
commanding  officer.  Soon,  however  Con- 
gress enacted  laws  measurably  righting  these 
inconsistencies.  It  was  and  still  is  required 
that  a  chaplain  be  a  duly  authorized  clergy- 
man of  a  religious  denomination,  that  he  be 
vouched  for  by  at  least  five  fellow  clergymen 
of  his  denomination  or  by  some  recognized 
council  of  same. 

In  a  volume,  ."Regimental  Losses  in  the 
American  Civil  War,"  compiled  by  Col.  Wm. 
F.  Fox  from  the  official  records  at  Wash- 
ington, there  is  a  chapter  showing  the  loss 
of  officers  in  action  from  army  and  corps 
commanders    to    officers    of    the    regimental 


be  upon  the  same  footing  as  other  officers  in 
the  matters  of  tenure  of  office,  retirement  and 
pensions.  A  proper  uniform  is  provided  for 
dress,  full  dress  and  service. 

Chaplains  are  appointed  by  the  President. 
He  usually  designates  a  number  of  men  for 
examination,  they  must  be  under  forty  years 
of  age,  pass  a  rigid  physical  examination  and 
certain  educational  tests. 

The  position  of  regimental  chaplain  is  un- 
ique. He  is  a  commissioned  officer  yet  with- 
out command.  No  question  of  relative  rank 
brings  him  into  rivalry  with  any  other  officer. 
He  may  be  welcomed  alike  by  general  or 
second  lieutenant  without  the  fear  of  any 
seeming  inconsistency  of  association,  if  only 
he  has  the  power  of  making  himself  person- 
ally or  socially  agreeable  or  useful.  Yet  he 
can  be  among  the  enlisted  men  as  one  en- 
tirely  in   sympathy   with   them,   without   any 


staff.  Chaplains  receive  honorable  mention  ;  thought  on  the  part  of  either  that  he  is  step- 
in  this  chapter.  "It  will  doubtless  be  a  sur-  I  ping  out  of  his  sphere  or  crossing  the  line 
prise  to  many,"  says  Col.  Fox,"  to  note  the  \  which  divides  commissioned  officers  as  a  class 
number  of  Chaplains  killed  in  battle.  These  j  from  enlisted  men  as  a  class.  In  this  a  chap- 
gallant  members  of  the  church  militant  were  ■  lain  has  a  position  utterly  unlike  any  other 
wont  to  take  a  more  active  part  in  the  fight-  j  person  in  the  army;  and  it  is  his  own  fault 
ing  than  has  been  generally  credited  to  them."  j  if  he  does  not  avail  himself  of  it  and  improve 
Fie  mentions  eleven  "among  the  chaplains  |  its  advantages.  Officers  and  men  alike  re- 
killed  in  action"  and  says  that  in  addition  I  spect  the  office  of  chaplain  and  seem  to  relish 
here  were  several  who  lost  their  lives  by  ;  having  in  their  army  life  one  person  to  whom 
he  diseases  and  hardships  incident  to  a  sol-  i  they   can   speak  in  entire  freedom,   that   is  if 

(Copyright.    1925.) 


62 


QUARTERLY  BULLETIN 

Published  by  the  Wyoming  State  Historical 
Department 


State  Historical  Board 

Governor — Mrs.  William  B.  Ross. 
Secretary  of  State — F.  E.  Lucas 
State  Librarian — Flo  La  Chapelle 


State  Historian — Mrs.  Cyrus  Beard 
Secretary  of  the  Board 

Advisory  Board 
Rt.   Rev.   P.  A.   McGovern,  Cheyenne 
Dr.  Grace  R.  Hebard,  Laramie 
Mr.  P.  W.  Jenkins,  Cora 
Mrs.  Willis  M.  Spear,  Sheridan 
Mr.  R.  D.  Hawley,  Douglas 
Miss   Margery   Ross,  Cody 
Mrs.  E.  T.  Raymond,  Newcastle 
Mr.   E.   H.  Fourt,  Lander 

Contents 

Army   Chaplains Coutant 

Green  River   Early   History.. Coutant 

Reminiscenses  of  Early  Days  of  Douglas 

: Bert    Wagner 

Reminiscenses  of  Early  Days  in  Wyoming 

....Mrs.  Kate  Lisberg 

Letter John   Hunton 

: .F.  V.   Hayden 

A  Tragic  Death  in  the  Early  Days  of 

Wyoming Elizabeth    Speath 

An    Appreciation ....Contributed 

Carbon  County  Copper J.  C.  Kennedy 

Cheyenne  Weather  Station 

, Emma  J.   Dobbins 

Notes  and  Comments State  Historian 

Accessions State    Historian 

the  chaplain  has  the  qualities  and  experience 
to  fit  him  for  such  confidence. 

Our  older  soldiers — commissioned  officers 
and  enlisted  men — especially  those  who  have 
been  through  the  recent  war  are  as  a  class 
more  reverent  than  people  on  the  outside 
judge  them  to  be.  They  support  all  services 
splendidly,  the  average  attendance  at  army 
posts  being  far  in  excess  of  that  in  civil  life. 
The  Chicago-Record  Herald  recently  made 
a  canvas  of  the  churches  of  Chicago  and 
stated  that  the  attendance  of  men  at  the  ser- 
vices of  the  various  churches  on  Sunday  was 
less  than  15  per  cent  of  the  male  population. 
At  army  posts  even  where  the  facilities  for 
attending  city  churches  are  the  best,  and  the 
conveniences  for  services  at  the  post  are  mea- 
ger, a  better  average  than  this  is  maintained. 
The  soldier  is  human  and  because  he  is 
human  he  welcomes  human  sympathy.  Away 
from  home  and  friends  he  is  usually  glad  to 
have  the  chaplain  show  an  interest  in  him 
and  his  dear  ones  and  to  invite  his  confidence 
concerning  matters  that  most  deeply  concern 
him  personally. 


.  An  old  time  officer  recently  told  me  that 
the  presence  and  services  of  the  Chaplain  on 
the  eve  of  a  battle  or  in  the  engagement  itself 
was  always  inspiring  alike  to  officers  and 
men.  He  said  that  after  they  came  to  know 
him  in  the  Phillipines,  before  which  time  the 
men  had  dubbed  him  Holy  Jim  the  Sky  Pilot, 
they  counted  his  influence  upon  the  men  as 
the  equal  of  a  dozen  additional  men  in  the 
conflict. 

On  the  other  hand  some  men  who  are 
natural  cowards  become  chaplains.  Two  sol- 
diers were  overheard  discussing  their  chap- 
lains and  comparing  them.  "He's  always  on 
picket  with  his  regiment,"  they  said,  "and  he 
is  always  ready  to  go  with  it  into  a  fight.  You 
don't  catch  our  'Holy  John'  up  there." 

"You  don't  mean  that  our  chaplain  is  a 
coward,  do  you?"  in  a  scornful  tone. 

"Oh,  no!  I  don't  say  he  is  a  coward;  but 
whenever  there  is  any  firing  ahead  he  has  to 
go  for  the  mail." 

"Well,  but  he  has  got  to  go  for  the  mail, 
you  know?" 

"Yes;  but  if  the  firing  is  sudden  he  can't 
stop  to  get  his  saddle  on." 

And  the  soldiers  laughed  heartily  over  this 
picture  of  their  frightened  Chaplain.  That 
Chaplain  could  not  preach  the  soldiers  duty 
of  courage  to  men  who  saw  that  he  gave  way 
to  unsoldierly  cowardice. 

The  regulations  specify  that  the  chaplain 
shall  conduct  one  service  each  Sunday,  and 
that  he  may  be  detailed  by  the  commanding 
officer  to  conduct  the  post  school  for  enlisted 
men.  So  that  it  is  evident  that  the  chaplain 
may  do  little  or  much  according  to  his  own 
inclination.  An  active  man  finds  plenty  to  do 
in  hospital,  guard  house,  Sunday  school, 
preaching  services,  mid-week  service,  literary 
society,  etc.  At  many  posts  suitable  chapels 
are  provided-  The  one  at  Fort  Reilly  is  of 
stone  and  cost  about  $12,000.  Regulations 
already  provide  for  heating,  lighting,_  janitor 
service  and  seating  but  no  provision  is  made 
for  desk,  bibles,  hymn  books,  or  communion 
service.  The  following  from  1901  regula- 
tions, section  341,  explains  how  such  items 
are  to  be  secured.  "Books  for  post  chapel 
services  are  not  furnished  by  the  Govern- 
ment; the  chaplain  is  expected  to  secure  them 
through  the  voluntary  contributions  of  those 
interested."  While  the  chaplain  has  no  au-i 
thority  in  the  matter  he  is  expected  to  have  a 
fatherly  oversight  of  the  post  library.  At 
most,  posts  good  libraries  are  provided,  a 
small  government  appropriation  being  avail- 
able to  keep  them  up.  Each  company  also 
has  its  reading  room,  usually  supplied  with 
choice  current  literature  and  papers  from  the 
locality  from  which  any  considerable  num- 
i  ber  of  the  men  come.  .  ! 

It  costs  the  Government  approximately 
$200,000  annually  to  maintain  its  corps  of 
I  army  chaplains  and  it  would  be  very  natural 
!  for  you  to  ask  if  as  a  result  of  this  outlay 
and  "the  effort  of  the  men  employed  there  are 
conversions  in  the  army.  From  my  short 
experience  I  can  answer  in  the  affirmative 
and  could  give  several  good  illustrations.  A 
man  at  Fort  Douglas,  where  I  was  stationed 
for  three  months,  was  spoken  of  as  the  great) 


63 


est  drunkard  in  the  post.  The  chaplain  had 
talked  with  him  and  found  him  to  be  a  man 
of  some  attainments  and  decided  to  try  to 
win  him  to  better  things.  He  invited  him  to 
learn  to  play  golf  with  him  and  furnished 
the  clubs  for  both.  The  man  showed  great 
aptitude  for  the  game  and  had  soon  won  the 
post  championship.  A  great  friendship 
sprung  up  between  chaplain  and  soldier,  he 
was  won  to  Christ  and  today  is  teaching  in 
the  post  school  at  Douglas,  an  honored  and 
respected  man.  One  such  case  is  compen- 
sation for  many  days  of  earnest  work. 

You  might  ask  does  the  religious  zeal  of 
the  average  young  man  lessen  when  he  enters 
the  army,  and  I  would  say  from  my  obser- 
vation, not  more  than  that  of  the  average 
young  man  in  any  profession  or  occupation 
who  is  removed  from  home  influences.  Re- 
member that  absolutely  none  of  the  restrain- 
ing influences  of  the  home  are  thrown  about 
the  soldier.  One  man  told  me  recently  that 
he  had  not  eaten  a  meal  in  a  home  for  four- 
teen years.  You  find  some  such  in  civil  life 
who  live  in  boarding  houses  and  Christian 
ministers  know  the  problem  such  cases  pre- 
sent. 

In  collection  with  the  work  of  the  chaplain 
mention  must  be  made  of  the  splendid  work 
rfr^feris  done  by  Christian  workers  from  the 
cities  that  are  located  near  army  posts.  The 
W.  C.  T.  U.,  the  various  young  people  so- 
cieties, the  Young  Men's  Christian  Associa- 
tion, pastors  and  laymen  have  contributed 
largely  of  their  time  for  work  among  sol-  : 
diers.  Such  effort  is  always  appreciated  and 
is  encouraged  by  commanding  officers  as  a 
rule.  It  is  often  the  case  that  the  only  ser- 
vices conducted  at  a  fort  for  years  have  been 
under  the  direction  of  volunteer  workers  and 
chaplains  have  come  upon  the  field  to  find 
well  organized  Young  People's  Societies  do- 
ing efficient  work.  The  direct  advantage  of 
this  outside  co-operation,  even  with  a  chap- 
lain on  the  field,  lies  in  the  fact  that  if  he  is 
removed  the  religious  work  is  not  entirely 
abandoned. 

(The  above  article  is  from  an  unsigned 
and  undated  manuscript  in  the  Coutant  Col- 
lection of  notes  in  the  State  Archives.  Mr. 
Coutant  died  in  1913.  Reference  in  the  man- 
uscript to  a  book  written  in  1901  places  the 
date  approximately. 

State  Historian. 


GREEN  RIVER  EARLY  HISTORY 

Green  River  is  the  county  seat  of  Sweet- 
water County  845  miles  west  of  Omaha,  the 
end  of  the  Laramie  and  the  commencement 
of  the  Western  Division  of  the  Union  Pa- 
cific. 

The  place  is  a  regular  eating  station,  where 
passenger  trains  stop  thirty  minutes,  those 
from  the  East  for  breakfast,  those  from  the 
West  for  supper.  Much  taste  is  displayed  at 
this  station  in  the  decorating  the  dining  room 
and  office  with  mountain  curiosities,  mineral 
specimens,  moss  agate  and  horns  of  game. 

The  city  has  a  good  court  house — costing 

$35,000;   several  dry  goods,  grocery,  clothing 

and  other  stores;   two  hotels,  and  about  400 

opulation;     also,     a     daily     newspaper,     the 


Evening  Press.  The  Railroad  Companv  has 
a  roundhouse  of  15  stalls,  and  machine  shops 
and  repair  shops,  located  here,  that  in  the 
early  years  of  the  road  were  at  Bryan. 

It  is  claimed  that  the  surrounding  country 
is  rich  in  mines  but  one  thing  is  certain  it  is 
rich  in  cattle;  it  has  cattle  on  more  than  a 
thousand  hills." 

The  bluffs  near  this  station  present  a  pecu- 
liar formation  called,  by  Professor  Hayden, 
the  "Green  River  Shales." 

The  walls  of  these  bluffs  rise  perpendicu- 
larly for  hundreds  of  feet,  are  of  grayish 
bluff  color,  and  are  composed  of  layers,  ap- 
parently sedimentary  deposits  of  all  the 
thicknesses  is  from  that  of  a  knife  blade  to 
two  feet,  at  the  base  of  the  bluffs  the  layers 
are  thin  and  composed  of  arenaceous  clay, 
with  laminated  sandstone,  mud  marking  sand 
other  indications  of  shallow  water  of  mud 
flats;  color  for  100  feet,  ashen  brower;  next 
above  are  lighter  colored,  layers,  alternate 
with  greenish  layers  and  fine  white  sand. 
Passing  up,  clay  and  lime  predominates  then 
comes  layers  of  boulders,  pebbles,  and  small 
I  nodules. 

!  "There  are  also  seams  of  very  fine  black 
hmestone,  saturated  with  petroleum  near  the 
summit,  under  the  shallow  calcareous  sand- 
stone, there  are  over  fifty  feet  of  shales  that 
contain  more  or  less  of  oily  material.  The 
hills  all  around  are  capped  with  a  deep,  rusty 
yellow  sandstone  which  presents  the  pecu- 
liar castellated  forms  which  with  the  handed 
appearance,  have  given  so  much  celebrity  to 
the  scenery  about  the  station. 

The  point  where  our  photographer  stood 
to  take  the  picture,  was  about  one  half  mile 
below  the  bridge  and  immediately  opposite 
the  mouth  of  the  noted  Bitter  Creek,  down 
which,  in  years  past,  rolled  the  wagons  of 
the  pioneer — emigrants  of  the  far  west,  on 
their  weary  way  seeking  new  El  Doradres 
towards  the  setting  sun. 

OLD  TOWN— a  short  distance  from  the 
station  to  the  southward  is  the  site  of  the 
old  deserted  city  of  Green  River,  near  the 
old  emigrant  crossing,  and  thereby  hangs  a 
tale.  This  city  was  laid  out  in  July,  1868, 
and  in  the  September  following  contained 
2,000  inhabitants  and  many  substantial  wood 
and  adobe  buildings,  and  presented  a  perman- 
ent appearance.  At  that  time  it  was  thought 
by  the  citizens  that  the  Railroad  Company 
would  certainly  erect  their  division  building 
near  the  town,  and  it  would  become  an  im- 
portant station  in  co'nsequence.  But  the  Rail- 
road Company  opposed  the  Town  company, 
bridged  the  river,  and  as  the  road  stretched 
away  to  the  westward,  the  town  declined  as 
rapidly  as  it  arose,  the  people  moving  on  to 
Bryan,  at  which  place  the  Railroad  Company 
located  their  city — and  sold  lots. 

Twenty  years  ago  an  important  trading 
station  was  located  near  this  station  just  be- 
low on  the  opposite  side  of  the  river.  In 
early  days  the  Mormons  had  a  ferry  here, 
and  as  the  river  was  seldom  fordable — except 
late  in  the  fall — they  reaped  a  rich  harvest 
of  from  $5.00  to  $20.00  a  team  for  crossing 
them  over  the  river,  according  as  the  owners 
were  found  able  to  pay.     These  times  were 


64 


comparatively  only  yesterday  and  we  might 
stay  with  the  juggler  "Presto!"  and  we  have 
the  "river  house"  and  the  big  trains  of  mag- 
nificent palace  cars,  crossing  the  substantial 
railroad  bridge,  conveying  their  hundreds  of 
passengers  daily  from  every  land  and  clime — 
whirling  them  across  the  continent  from 
ocean  to  ocean,  on  schedule  time.  Do  these 
passengers  while  partaking  of  a  princely 
meal,  lying  at  ease  sipping  their  wine  (or 
possibly  ice  water)  and  smoking  quietly  their 
cigar,  ever  think  of  the  hardy  pioneers  who 
toiled  along  on  foot,  and  alone  many  times 
over  seven  months  traveling  the  same  dis- 
tance that  can  now  be  made  in  five  days? 
These  pioneers  suffered  every  kind  of  hard- 
ship, many  unto  death  and  those  that  re- 
main are  fast  passing  away.  Yet,  the  fruits 
of  their  adventurous  and  daring  intrepidity 
can  be  seen  no  every  hand. 

GREEN  RIVER.  This  stream  rises  in  the 
northwest  portion  of  the  Wind  River  Moun- 
tains at  the  base  of  Fremont's  Peak.  The 
source  of  the  river  is  found  in  innumerable 
little  streams  about  200  miles  from  the  rail- 
road crossing,  about  150  miles  below  the  sta- 
tion the  river  empties  into  the  Colorado 
River.  The  name  "Green  River"  implies  the 
color  of  the  water,  but  one  would  hardly 
expect  to  behold  a  large  rapid  river,  whose 
waters  possess  so  deep  a  hue.  The  river 
for  some  distances  up  the  streams  runs 
through  a  soil  composed  of  decomposed  rock, 
slate,  etc.,  which  is  very  green  and  easily 
washed  and  worn  away  which  accounts  for 
the  color  of  the  water.  At  all  seasons  of  the 
year  the  water  is  very  good — the  best  by  far 
of  any  found  in  this  country.  The  tributaries 
abound  in  trout  of  fine  flavor,  and  the  main 
river  is  well  stocked  with  the  finny  tribe. 
Game  of  all  kinds  abound  along  the  river 
and  in  the  adjacent  mountains. 

Fontenelle  Creek  comes  into  Green  River 
forty  miles  north  and  is  especially  noted  for 
game,  trout,  etc. 

The  lower  stream  presents  a  very  marked 
feature,  aside  from  the  high  bluffs  of  worn 
sandstone  besides  sedimentary  deposits. 
These  features  are  strongly  marked,  above 
the  bridge  for  several  miles. 

From  Green  River  station  the  first  ex- 
ploratory expedition  of  Major  Powell  started 
on  the  24th  of  May,  1869.  The  party  con- 
sisted of  about  a  dozen  well  armed,  intrepid 
men,  mostly  western  hunters.  They  had  four 
well  built  boats,  with  which  to  explore  the 
mysterious  and  terrible  canyons  of  Green 
River  and  the  Colorado.  These  gorges  were 
comparatively  unknown,  the  abrupt  moun- 
tain walls  having  turned  the  travel  far  from 
their  sterile  shores.  Science  and  commerce 
demanded  a  solution  of  the  question,  and 
Major  Powell  undertook  to  solve  the  prob- 
lem. The  party  encountered  hardships,  dis- 
covered beautiful  scenery,  and  in  their  report 
have  thrown  much  light  on  the  mysteries 
of  this  heretofore  not  much  traveled  country. 
The  result  of  the  expedition  afforded  the  Ma- 
jor materials  for  a  course  of  lectures  and 
demonstrated  the  important  fact  that  the 
Colorado  canyon  is  not  navigable. 


We  hear  the  Major  has  since  the  above 
made  an  expedition  to  the  river,  but  are  not 
informed  as  to  the  results.  A  wagon  road 
leads  north  up  the  east  side  of  the  river, 
on  which  a  stage  runs  regularly  to  the 

SWEETWATER  COUNTRY.  The  prin- 
cipal cities  are  South  Pass,  Atlantic  and 
Hamilton.  They  are  situated  four  miles 
apart.  The  principal  occupation  of  the  citi- 
zens is  quartz  gold  mining.  Many  of  the 
mines  are  said  to  be  very  rich,  but  for  some 
reasons  are  very  unprofitable  to  work.  The 
principal  mines  are  on  the  Sweetwater  river;, 
a  tributary  of  Wind  River,  which  passes 
through  very  rich  mineral  and  agricultural 
country. 

Wind  River  is  a  tributary  of  the  Big  Horn 
River  which  empties  into  the  Yellowstone. 
The  streams  abound  in  fish  including  trout 
of  excellent  flavor.  The  mountains  and  val- 
ley furnish  game  in  abundance,  deer,  elk, 
antelope,  mountain  sheep,  buffalo,  brown, 
black  and  grizzly  bears.  Indians  difficulties 
have  retarded  mining,  agricultural  and  busi- 
ness operations  very  much  in  the  past. 

Leaving  the  station  we  cross  Green  River 
on  a  fine  bridge,  the  cars  passing  along 
through  heavy  cut  almost  over  the  river  in 
places  affording  a  fine  view  of  the  cliffs  on 
the  east  side  of  the  river.  Twenty  miles  to 
the  northwest  is  a  large  barren  butte,  stands 
in  isolated  loneliness.  Soon  we  turn  to  the 
left  leaving  the  river  and  pass  along  a  dreary 
waste  for  13.4  miles  and  arrive  at  Bryan. 

— From  Coutant  Notes. 


REMINISCENCES  OF  THE  EARLY 
DAYS  OF  DOUGLES 

In  the  spring  of  1886  the  Fremont  Elkhorn 
and  Missouri  Valley  Railroad  (now  known 
as  the  Chicago  and  Northwestern  Railroad) 
was  built  from  Chadron  through  Eastern 
part  of  Wyoming  to  Douglas  which  was  the 
terminus  of  the  Railroad  for  several  years. 
The  first  lots  were  sold  in  September  1886 
and  a  town  sprung  up  in  three  months  with 
a  population  of  about  two  thousand  five  hun- 
dred and  it  was  the  liveliest  and  busiest  town 
in  the  State  until  the  railroad  was  extended 
to  Casper  several  years  later.  Before  the 
railroad  reached  Douglas  and  the^  town  lots 
were  sold,  a  village  of  Tents  and  Shacks  was 
built  on  Antelope  Creek  about  a  half  mile 
from  the  Douglas  townsite  and  I  was  one  of 
the  first  merchants  to  open  up  a  Clothing 
and  Mens  Furnishing  store  in  the  town  of 
Antelope.  I  had  most  of  my  merchandise 
shipped  from  Chicago  and  Omaha  to  the  end 
of  the  railroad  and  freighted  from  there  in 
wagons  drawn  by  fourteen  to  sixteen  horses 
or  mules,  and  it  took  about  6  days  to  make 
the  trip  to  Douglas,  the  roads  being  very 
rough  especially  in  the  spring  of  the  year. 
1  I  also  had  some  merchandise  consigned  to 
!  me  from  Omaha  via  the  Union  Pacific  R.  R. 
i  to  Rock  Creek  (now  called  Rock  River,  Wyo- 
ming) and  freighted  from  there  to  Douglas. 
!  A  man  by  the  name  of  William  Taylor  who 
owned  a"  large  Mercantile  establishment  at. 
|  Rock  Creek,  took  charge  of  all  freight  ship- 
ments at  that  point  and  forwarded  same  to 
I  Douglas    merchants    by    Freight    Teams.      Tt 


65 


took  from  seven  to  ten  days  to  haul  freight 
from  Rock  Creek  to  Douglas  at  that  time, 
cost  from  three  to  five  cents  per  pound  for 
hauling.  Among  the  freighters  who  had  out- 
fits were  George  Powell,  Al  Ayres,  Jim 
Smith,  Abe  Daniels  and  Barney  Gunning. 
There  were  many  others  whom  I  cannot  re- 
call at  this  time.  All  of  these  men  settled 
in  Douglas  later  on  and  were  very  prosper- 
ous, in  fact  two  of  them  (Abe  Daniels  and 
Jim  Smith)  became  rich.  The  former  died 
several  years  ago  and  left  quite  a  large 
estate  but  Jim  Smith  is  still  living  and  resides 
in  Casper  now  and  owns  more  real  estate 
than  any  other  man  in  Casper.  He  is  also 
proprietor  of  the  Natrona  Hotel  in  Casper 
which  is  a  money  making  proposition.  When 
I  reached  the  town  of  Antelope  on  Antelope 
Creek  near  the  townsite  where  Douglas  now 
stands,  I  could  not  find  any  lumber  or  other 
material  for  erecting  a  store  building  so  I 
wired  to  Chicago  for  a  large  Tent,  thirty 
feet  wide  and  fifty  feet  long.  By  the  time 
it  had  arrived  I  had  secured  a  few  rough 
boards  and  two  by  fours,  and  with  these  I 
built  a  frame  thirty  by  fifty  feet  to  stretch 
the  tent  over.  I  also  built  a  temporary  floor 
and  some  shelving  and  counters  out  of  the 
ro»gh  lumber  so  as  to  have  a  suitable  place 
to  open  a  temporary  store.  After  I  had  un- 
packed all  of  my  merchandise,  found  that   I 

ad  ordered  too  large  a  tent  so  I  rented  half 

f  it  to  Charles  Clay  of  Rock  Creek,  Wyo- 
ming, who  opened  up  a  Grocery  Store  and 
ve  were  the  leading  merchants  in  the  town 

f  Antelope,  Wyoming,  until  the  fall  of  1885 
vhen  the  town  of  Douglas  was  built  and 
very  one  in  the  vicinity  moved  over  to  Doug- 
as.  The  first  lot  was  sold  to  DeForrest 
~ichards    Sr.,   for   twelve    hundred   and    fifty 

ollars  $1,250.00)  and  he  immediately  began 
he  erection  of  the  First  National  Bank 
Budding  of  Douglas  which  was  completed  in 
ibout  three  months.  He  also  bought  another 
ot  on  the  opposite  corner  for  which  he  paid 
me  thousand  dollars  and  on  this  corner  he 
erected  a  large  one  story  brick  building  which 
vas  first  occupied  by  the  C.  H.  King  Mer- 
cantile Company,  of  which  DeForrest  Rich- 
irds,  Sr.,  was  a  half  owner.  This  was  the 
argest  mercantile  establishment  in  Central 
Wyoming  for  a  number  of  years,  and  when 
he  railroad  was  extended  to  Casper,  this  firm 
xioved  to  Casper  and  also  established  the 
"asper  National  Bank.  A  few  years  later 
Vlr.  A.  J.  Cunningham  bought  the  interests 
>f  C.  H.  King  and  the  firm  name  was  chang- 
:d  to  Richards  and  Cunningham  Company, 
vho  now  operate  one  of  the  largest  Depart- 
ment Stores  in  the  State  and  also  own  the 
~asper  National  Bank.  Two  prominent  citi- 
zens of  Casper,  viz.  Patrick  Sullivan  and  P. 
1.  Nicolayson  are  associated  with  them  in 
he  bank  and  store.     I  am  ahead  of  my  story 

gain  and  must  write  a  few  more  reminis- 
:ences  of  the  early  days  of  Douglas  where  I 
vas  located  for  about  ten  years. 

I  bought  a  lot  in  Douglas  on  the  first  day 
if  the  lot  sale  in  September  in  1886  and  paid 
ive  hundred  dollars  for  it  in  the  middle  of 
he  block  where  the  Yellowstone  Garage  is 
iow  located.     It  took  me  two  days  to  get  the 


sagebrush  off  of  this  lot  which  was  about 
three  feet  high;  I  then  began  the  construc- 
tion of  a  one  story  frame  store  building  which 
cost  me  about  twenty-five  hundred  dollars 
and  before  moving  in  my  new  store  I  gave 
a  big  dance  free  to  everybody,  the  music  be- 
ing furnished  by  Abe  Daniels  and  myself,  he 
being  an   expert   on   the   fiddle   and   I   played 


the  piano.  The  refreshments  consisted  of  a 
Dutch  Lunch  with  all  the  beer  they  wanted 
to  drink  and  all  free.  This  made  a  great  hit 
and  was  a  good  advertisement  for  me.  It 
was  certainly  a  mixed  crowd,  mostly  cow- 
boys, Railroad  men,  and  Surveyors,  but  all 
|  had  a  good  time. 

j      After  I  had  removed  my  stock  of  merchan- 
|  dise  from  the  big  Tent  of  Antelope  Creek  to 
the  new  store  in  Douglas,  some  cowboys  cut 
|  out  the  entire  north  side  of  the  tent  for  tar- 
paulins and  the  tent  was  ruined  so  I  cut  the 
■  balance  of  it  into   strips   and   sold  them  for 
tarpaulins.     There  were  a  lot  of  shacks  and 
I  tents    erected    in    the    old    town    of    Antelope 
|  Creek  and  most  of  them  were  moved  later  on 
I  to   the   new   town   of   Douglas,   Wyoming      I 
[remember  that  the  "Budget  Office"    (an  old 
|  shack     building    of    rough     boards    and    tar 
paper,    etc.)     was    erected    right    across    the 
street   from   my   tent   store,   and   next   to   my 
store  was  another  tent  owned  by  A.  R.  Mer- 
ritt,    it   being   used   for   a    Drug    Store.      Mr. 
Merritt    now   owns    one    of    the    largest    De- 
I  partment  Stores  in  Douglas.     He  came  from 
!  Nebraska    (Fremont)    and    I    from    Laramie, 
I  Wyoming.      There    was   also   a   large    Hard- 
!  ware    Store   in   a   tent   and   it   was   owned   by 
Peavy  and   Ralston,  who  later  on  moved   to 
the  town  of  Douglas  but  did  not  remain  there 
long.      Just   across   the   street   from   store   on 
Antelope   Creek   was   another   shack   built   of 
rough  boards  and  tar  paper,  etc.,  occupied  by 
C.  R.  Maurer  as  a  law  office  and  next  to  that 
a  building  that  looked  like  a  barn  also  built 
of  rough   lumber  and  tar  paper,   etc.,   and   it 
was   occupied    by    the    "Rowdy    West"    news 
paper,  which  by  the  way  was  always  printed  1 
on  pink  paper  similar  to  the   Police   Gazette 
but   minus   the   pictures.      It   was   owned   and 
operated   by   W.   S.    Kimball,   Sr.   and   W.    S. 
Kmball,  Jr,  who  came  there  from  Audobau, 
Iowa   in    the    spring   of    1886   and   both   have  i 
been    good    friends    of    mine    ever    since    al- 
though  their   politics   were   not   the   same   as 
mine.      W.    S.    Kimball,    Sr.,    is    now    about 
eighty-four  years   of  age   and   lives   in    Glen- 
rock,  Wyo.,  while  his  son  W.  S.  Kimball,  Jr., 
is   now  a  resident  of   Casper,  and  owns   two 
large    Drug    Stores.      He    was    at    one    time 
Mayor   of   Casper,   and   is   now   a   highly   re- 
spected resident  of  the  community. 

There  were  several  other  pioneers  or  "Old 
Timers"  (as  I  call  them)  who  were  in  busi- 
ness in  the  little  town  of  Antelope  before 
Douglas  was  built,  but  I  cannot  recall  them 
at  this  time.  After  the  town  lots  were  sold 
in  Douglas  nearly  every  business  man  in  the 
town  of  Antelope  began  to  erect  buildings 
and  within  three  months  there  were  several 
blocks  oi  business  houses  erected  and  num- 
erous residences.  The  First  National  Bank 
Building  was  the  largest  building  in  Douglas 
for  several  years,  and  the   C.   H.   King   Mer- 


66 


cantile  Co.  also  erected  a  very  large  one 
story  brick  building.  The  Maverick  Bank 
Building  was  erected  by  a  Mr.  Garver  who 
was  a  large  coal  mining  operator  of  Des 
Moines,  Iowa,  and  he  started  his  son  (Carl 
Garver,  who  by  the  way  is  now  the  Mayor 
of  Des  Moines,  Iowa)  in  the  banking  busi- 
ness. But  this  bank  only  laste  da  few  years, 
as  Carl  Garver  was  too  liberal,  and  loaned 
money  freely  especially  to  the  Cowboys  who 
were  all  his  friends,  and  he  would  take  al- 
most anything  for  security,  such  as  a  saddle, 
revolver,  or  a  pair  of  spurs  and  their  notes. 
While  the  bank  building  was  being  erected, 
they  decided  to  name  it  the  "Maverick  Bank" 
as  the  name  "Maverick"  was  very  popular 
in  those  days,  meaning  an  unbranded  steer, 
and  many  cattlemen  or  ranchmen  became 
rich  by  rounding  up  Mavericks  and  branding 
them. 

There  were  many  funny  incidents  hap- 
pened in  Douglas  during  the  Early  Days  and 
one  of  them  I  can  vividly  recall. 

A  Jewish  merchant  by  the  name  of  Fuhr- 
man  located  in  Douglas  during  the  first  year 
at  its  existence,  and  I  believe  he  was  the  "only 
Jew  in  Douglas  at  that  time.  Although  he 
was  very  popular  the  boys  were  always  play- 
ing tricks  on  him.  One  day  a  party  of  young 
men  toik  him  out  hunting,  and  they  traveled 
quite  a  distance  and  had  to  camp  out  over 
night.  One  day  one  of  the  party  killed  a 
Coyote  and  that  night  while  Mr.  Fuhrman 
was  asleep  they  put  the  Coyote  in  bed  with 
him,  and  when  he  woke  up  and  felt  the  ani- 
mal rubbing  against  his  face  he  was  almost 
frightened  to  death,  he  first  thought  it  was 
alive.  Another  funny  incident  happened  at 
about  the  same  time.  A  young  lawyer  by  the 
name  of  Beemis  who  came  out  from  Iowa  to 
visit  Carl  Garver,  Robert  Green  and  Mr. 
Blackburn  and  he  was  a  real  "Tenderfoot" 
as  they  called  any  green  fellow  in  those  days. 
So  they  had  him  go  out  Snipe  Hunting  and 
made  him  carry  a  gunnysack  with  a  barrel 
hoop  in  it  to  keep  it  open.  They  told  him 
to  sit  down  and  hold  the  sack  while  they  all 
went  to  drive  in  the  Snipe  and  he  did  so  but 
fell  asleep  holding  the  sack,  and  when  he 
woke  up  all  had  gone  home  and  there  were 
no  snipe  in  the  sack,  in  fact  I  guess  there 
were  none  in  the  country  so  the  joke  was  on 
him. 

After  Douglas  became  an  incorporated 
town  there  were  many  nice  refined  people 
settled  there  and  all  were  prosperous  until  the 
railroad  was  extended  to  Casper.  After  that 
over  half  of  the  population  followed  the  rail- 
joad  to  Casper  which  is  the  largest  town  in 
Wyoming.  Many  of  the  pioneers  or  old 
timers  -of  Douglas  are  still  living  and  many 
of  them  make  their  home  in  Casper.  Nearly 
all  of  them  have  been  prosperous  and  are  en- 
joying their  old  days  in  a  nice  modern  city. 
Well  I  think  that  I  have  written  enough 
about  the  early  days  of  Laramie  and  Douglas 
so  will  close  but  later  on  I  may  write  some 
interesting  events  which  have  not  yet  been 
published  about  the  early  days  of  Casper. 
Yours  respectfully, 
(Signed)  BERT  WAGNER, 

631  East  2nd  Street, 
Casper,  Wyoming, 


REMINISCENCE  OF  EARLY  DAYS  W 
WYOMING 

By   Mrs.  August  Kate  Leisberg 

Age  70  years 

Arriving    November   23rd,    1889    from    Ell 

Horn,  Nebraska  I  found  Green  River,  Wyo 

ming  a  most  barren   town;   only  a  few  fam 

ilies  very  busy  but  kindly  disposed. 

In  a  few  days  I  left  for  Miners  Delight 
where_  my  sister  Mrs.  E.  J.  Morris  resided 
At  this  place  two  hundred  men  mining  foi 
gold  were  working  day  and  night.  Pros 
pecting  for  gold  was  the  daily  topic  of  con 
versation,  amusements  were  not  much  varied 
sleigh  riding,  coasting  over  high  snow  drift: 
and  dancing  were  all  at  that  time 

Health  seeking  was  a  great  question,  an 
swered  by  some  wonderful  demonstrations 
Wealth  sought  it  as  the  prospector  did  foi 
gold.  Not  all  the  tents  dotting  the  Soutl 
Pass  hills  to  Father  Washakies  Peaks  wen 
the  abode  of  Indians.  Father  Washakie  was 
a  thoughtful  old  man;  while  he  sanctionec 
the  Sun-dance  it  has  often  been  quoted  tha' 
he  advised  young  heroes  "to  live  peacefu 
with  all  brethren  for  the  Great  Spirit  mad« 
us  all.  We  are  many  like  leaves  on  the  trees 
and  he  will  not  let  it  rain  or  the  grass  grow 
your  families  will  all  starve  to  death  if  yot 
go  on  the  war  path  and  white  man's  sickness 
will  come  upon  you." 

First,  if  not  most  disappointing  was  wher 
I  went  to  live  on  the  Reservation,  near  Fori 
Washakie.  I  looked  and  looked  in  vain  foi 
the  Hiawathas  and  heroes  of  the  beautifa 
Indian  maidens,  the  Pocahontas  type  I  used 
to  read  about  when  I  was  a  small  girl  in 
Mexico,  Missouri,  which  was  my  native 
home. 

My  first  occupation  as  teaching  school  in 
South  Pass;  a  school  which  had  been  pre- 
viously taught  by  Dr.  Kate  Nelson,  a  sister 
of  Mrs.  Captain  Nickerson  (Mrs.  N.  G.).  I 
had  to  ride  horse  back  over  a  rough,  un- 
broken, snowlined  road  two  and  one-half 
miles  with  two  of  my  pupils  behind  me. 
Fifty  dollars  per  month  and  twenty  for 
board,  while  this  experience  was  a  hardship 
I  broke  in  and  conquered.  Teachers  now 
could  hardly  believe  how  trying  such  things 
were  then,  as  we  have  good  roads  to  walk 
or  ride  on  now,  much  better  salaries  and 
more  comfortable  places  to  board.  All  due 
to  intelligent  progressiveness.  Many  people 
were  as  up  to  date  in  general  information 
then  as  they  are  today,  only  they  had  to  adapt 
themselves  to  surroundings  and  conditions  of 
the  country.  Educational  opinions  were  in 
unison.  People  wanted  schools  to  prosper 
and  develop  for  the  betterment  of  their  child- 
ren. 

Mrs.  Esther  Morris  was  the  first  woman 
to  advocate  Women  Suffrage  in  Wyoming. 

She  served  for  a  time  as  Justice  of  the 
Peace  in  Atlantic  City.  She  is  still  repre- 
sented in  Cheyenne  by  near  relatives  in  pro- 
minent families. 

Religion  and  politics  did  not  seem  to  take 
up  time  and  thought  as  at  present  although 
there  could  be  named  many  good  Christians 
and  politicians  who  did  try  to  do  some  good. 


67 


Editing  of  newspapers  was  well  con- 
ducted, as  their  statements  of  Wyoming's 
resources    was    heralded    in    every    direction. 

The  Wind  River  Mountaineer,  edited  by 
[Sr.  Winn  could  be  compared  to  a  light  in 
the  window  of  the  wilderness. 

There  were  some  very  fine  principled  boys 
among  the  cowboy  class,  some  from  New 
York  drawing  rooms  who  received  letters 
from  mothers  and  sisters  which  were  equal 
to  any  Bible  sermons  of  the  present  day. 
Society  after  a  time  improved.  Some  were 
as  diamonds  in  a  rubbish  pile;  some  helpless 
through  ignorance;  some  helplessly  poor  but 
the  most  marked  feature  was  sympathy  for 
all  who  were  in  sickness  or  distress. 

The  Murphy  Oil  Wells  were  very  small 
cavities.  They  are  known  now  as  the  Dallas 
Oil  Wells,  and  are  considered  the  best  in  all 
the  Lander  country.  They  are  well  worked 
and  developed  by  an  English  Company  at 
present.  The  railroad  and  oil  boom  was 
talked  of  twenty  years  before  they  reached 
the  Lander  country  but  great  good  came  at 
last. 

Popoagie  Canyon  Valley  was  very  cold, 
young  people  cannot  imagine  how  the  clim- 
ate has  changed.  Even  Westerners  never 
expected  to  see  strawberries  and  asparagus 
^r-*f\v  in  a  Lander  garden.  Mr.  Ed  Young 
of  Red  Cannon  commenced  early  to  culti- 
vate an  apple  orchard  and  succeeded  after 
years  of  hard  work.  After  the  fruit  experi- 
ment  was  successful  other  varieties  of  food  ! 
products  were  tried,  some  were  very  good 
and  were  adapted  to  the  variations  of  clim- 
ate. 

The  freighting  of  provisions  into  the  in- 
habited districts  would  make  as  good  a  mov- 
ing picture  now  as  the  Covered  Wagon  but 
there  was  not  much  romance  about  freght- 
ing  then,  as  storms  delayed  the  traffic  and 
many  persons  had  to  live  for  a  time  on  car- 
rots, beans,  rice  and  sagebrush  tea. 

Agriculture  was  in  a  very  backward  con- 
dition. There  was  not  much  machinery  and 
very  poor  market.  Stock  raising  was  best  and 
while  many  suffered  hardships,  as  we  all  did, 
some  made  money  and  money  made  better 
times  for  all.  But  for  a  new  country  there 
was  considerable  activity  in  real  estate, 
:hurches  were  built,  Sunday  Schools  started. 
The  country  was  progressive  but  in  crude 
ways  for  a  time.  Some  of  our  best  citizens 
}f  that  time  live  here  today.  Farmers  were 
:alking  land.  The  man  with  land  is  the  com- 
ing man  but  many  took  on  more  than  they 
:ould  handle  profitably.  "Farmers  Alliance" 
oroved  a  failure.  Irrigating  ditches  were  the 
:ause  of  much  controversy. 

Honorable  Mr.  James  Patton  conducted 
md  read  funeral  services  when  called  upon 
md  was  a  very  popular  citizen.     Mr.   H.   G. 


vants — people  showed  their  appreciation  by 
keeping  them  to  handle  business  affairs.  Mrs. 
Smith-Sherlock  kept  the  store  and  Post- 
office;  Mrs.  H.  Sherman  the  boarding  house 
and  occasionally  held  Bible  meetings.  Peo- 
ple seemed  to  appreciate  them  as  an  Oasis 
in  the  Desert  of  Western  Life.  Dr.  T. 
Maghee.  Sr.,  was  Dentist,  Doctor  and  almost 
nurse  in  cases.  Archie  Slack,  eldest  son  of 
Mrs.  Esther  Morris,  edited  the  leading  paper 
known  as  the  South  Pass  News. 

Many  changes  in  every  way  continued  for 
the  uplifting  standard.  Only  two  contagions 
tried  to  mar  Mother  Earth's  material  happi- 
ness, snobbery  and  chicken  pox.  One  de- 
pended on  the  flourish  of  the  crops,  the  other 
on  not  heeding,  prevention  cures.  My  own 
air  castles,  were  far  away.  But  the  people 
who  attached  their  interests,  and  no  differ- 
ence where  they  wandered  came  back,  built 
nice  residences  and  paid  many  a  worthy 
TRIBUTE  TO  DEAR  OLD  WYOMING. 


LETTERS 

From  letters  to  Mrs.  Beard. 

January  29,  1925. 
In  answer  to  your  question  "when  was  the 
lime  kiln   west  of  the   Fort   built"   I   will  try 
to  give  you  such  information  as  I  can  on  the 
subject.      Boulders   of  lime  rock  are   promis- 
cuously scattered  over  the  Fort  Laramie  sec- 
tion  of   country   for  many   miles  around   and 
in  the  early  occupation  of  the  country  .by  the 
Military  some  lime  was  made  in  a  crude  way 
by   piling   lime   boulders   and   wood   together 
and    burning    the    lime    rock.       It    was    also 
known  that  large  deposits  of  lime  stone  ex- 
isted  in   what   is   now   known   as   the   Guern- 
sey neighborhood. 
^  Sometime  during  the  early  construction  of 
Fort    Laramie    the    Military   authority — com- 
manding officer  or  Quartermaster — employed 
a  few  citizens  (I  heard  their  names  and  per- 
sonally knew  one  of  them)  to  burn  a  kiln  of 
lime  at  Warm  Springs  about  2y2  miles  south 
and   west   of   the   town   of   Guernsey   and   lo- 
cated on  the  Oregon  Trail.     There  was  con- 
siderable lime  burnt  at  this  place  for  several 
years  but  in  the  meantime  another  ledge  or 
deposit  of  a  better  quality  of  lime  stone  had 
been   discovered   at   Cold   Springs   about    \l/2 
miles     north    and     west    of    Warm     Springs 
which   I  think,  is  the  location  your  question 
refers    to,    as    it    was    the    place    the    Govern- 
ment got  lime  from  for  many  years  for  both 
Fort  Laramie  and  Fort  Fetterman.     In  1871 
a  good  quality  of  lime  stone  was  discovered 
on  La  Parelle  Creek  near  the  Natural  Bridge. 
Fetterman   was   then   supplied   from   that   lo- 
cality.     Fort   Laramie   continued  to  get   lime 
from    Cold    Springs   until   the    Cheyenne   and 
Northern  R.  R.  was  constructed,  after  which 
time  it  had  its  lime  shipped  to  Bordeaux  by 


SJickerson  (Captain)  and  family  were  among  train.  During  1877  and  78  and  79  and  the 
he  residents.  Mr.  James  Kirae  kept  a  store  j  early  eighties  some  small  kiln  of  lime  was 
md  a  saloon.  ,  burnt  each  vear,  of  boulder  lime  rock  along 

Mr.  W.  T.  Shane,  Mr.  Mart  McGrath  and  :  the  Laramie  river  some  nine  or  ten  miles 
Mr.  Enderly,  were  the  first  three  men  who  west  of  Fort  Laramie.  During  1867  several 
aid  out  the  town  site  of  Thermopohs.  Mr.  I  thousand  bushels  of  lime  was  burnt  at  Cold 
N.  T.  Shane  is  living  with  his  family  at  :  Springs  for  Forts  Laramie  and  Fetterman  bv 
>resent  in  Thermopohs.  Many  others  could  Dan  McUlvan  and  much  of  it  hauled  by 
>e   mentioned   who   proved   good   public   ser-    Million  Dickerson,  both  of  whose  names  you 


68 


can  find  in  the  "Old  Ledger."  I  think  I 
have  given  about  all  the  history  of  lime  there 
is  worth  giving. 

Most  respectfull, 
(Signed)  JOHN  HUNTON. 


Fort  Saunders,  W.  T. 
August  24,  1868. 
Dr.  Hiram  Latham, 
Cheyenne,  Wyoming. 
Dear  Sir: 

I  take  great  pleasure  in  communicating  to 
you  some  of  the  results  of  my  examination 
of  the  iron  districts  of  Wyoming  territory. 
I  regard  the  iron  ore  leads  of  the  territory 
as  of  great  value,  and  almost  indefinite  in  ex- 
tent, and  if  the  coal,  of  which  there  is  the 
greatest  quantity  can  be  made  useful  in 
smelting  this  iron,  it  will  prove  as  great  a 
source  of  wealth  as  the  iron  ore  beds  of 
Pennsylvania  are  to  the  people  of  that  state. 
The  iron  mines  I  examined  were  those  con- 
nected with  the  coal  formations  along  the 
eastern  base  of  the  Laramie  Range,  com- 
mencing about  ten  miles  south  of  Cheyenne 
City.  This  ore  is  amonite,  commonly  known 
as  namehematite,  or  brown  iron  ore.  The 
specimens  obtained  were,  very  compact, 
showing  that  it  must  have  been  derived  from 
the  carbonite  of  iron,  and  it  will  certainly 
prove  to  be  of  excellent  quality. 

I  have  estimated  the  coal  formations  south 
of  Cheyenne  City  and  north  of  the  Arkansas 
to  occupy  an  area  of  5,000  square  miles,  and 
all  this  country  is  covered  with  brown  iron 
ore  to  greater  or  less  extent. 

It  is  said  to  yield  seventy  per  cent  of  me- 
talic  iron  and  about  three  tons  of  the  ore  is 
required  to  make  one  ton  of  pig  iron.  This 
ore  has  been  pronounced  by  such  authorities 
as  Profs.  Hall  and  Silliman  equal  to  the  best 
brown  ore  of  the  east. 

At  the  sources  of  the  Chugwater  are  mass- 
ive beds  of  magnetic  iron  ore  of  the  best 
quality.  It  is  very  much  like  the  Champlain 
ores  of  the  east,  and  cannot  fail  to  produce 
the  best  of  iron. 

The  quantity  is  unlimited  and  if  the  pow- 
erful corporation  of  the  Union  Pacific  Rail- 
road can  succeed  in  combining  the  two  great 
elements  of  wealth  in  this  territory,  coal  and 
iron,  so  as  to  utilize  them,  Wyoming  must 
eventually  hold  a  relation  to  the  contiguous 
territories  similar  to  that  which  Pennsylvania 
now  sustains  toward  the  neighboring  states. 
Rolling  mills  and  iron  furnaces  will  spring  up 
everywhere,  and  it  will  cross  the  Missouri 
River  on  its  way  westward. 

You  have  enough  iron  ore  on  the  territory 
of  Wyoming  alone  to  supply  the  demand  of 
the  entire  west  for  a  generation  or  more,  and 
discoveries  will  be  made  almost  daily.  The 
time  has  come  when  the  vast  mineral  wealth 
of  this  region  must  be  made  useful,  and  suc- 
cessful methods  of  reducing  the  ores  will  be 
sought  and  found. 

The  great  interest  you  have  manifested  in 
the  development  of  the  resources  of  this 
western  country  has  led  me  to  address  this 
brief  note  to  you  and  I  hope  I  may  be  able 
to  inform  vou  of  other  discoveries  from  time 


to   time.      Wishing  you   much   success,   I   re- 
main 

Sincerely  yours, 

F.  V.  HAYDEN, 
United  States  Geologist. 

A  TRAGIC  DEATH  IN  THE  EARLY 
DAYS  OF  WYOMING 

One  of  the  oldest  ranches  in  Campbell 
County  is  the  present  Lee  and  Spaeth  ranch 
about  seven  miles  east  of  Gillette,  the  pre- 
sent county  seat.  This  ranch  was  originally 
homesteaded  by  Hank  Mason  who  lived  in 
California  in  the  early  sixties,  where  he  was 
a  placer  miner  and  a  professional  hunter.  He 
went  into  the  Black  Hills  of  Dakota  in  1877. 
His  headquarters  were  a  dug-out  on  the  pre- 
sent Lee  and  Spaeth  ranch.  He  continued 
to  hunt,  until  buffalo  and  bear  were  gone, 
then  worked  for  other  people  until  Crook 
County  was  organized  in  1885.  He  was  the 
first  road  supervisor  elected,  and  graded  the 
road  from  Inya  Kara  Creek  to  Sundance. 
xVIr.  E.  B.  Armstrong,  who  now  lives  in  Cali- 
fornia and  who  was  himself  one  of  the  early 
settlers  of  the  northeastern  part  of  Wyo- 
ming writes  as  follows  about  Mason: 

"I  first  met  Hank  Mason  on  the  Belle 
Fourche  River  in  1881  killing  buffalo  for  their 
hides.  He  had  killers  and  skinners  doing  a 
big  business.  About  1880  he  went  down  on 
what  is  known  as  Stockade  Beaver  creek,  in 
Weston  County  and  started  a  saw-mill  near 
the  head  of  the  creek,  far  back  in  the  moun- 
tains, about  1893  or  1894.  During  the  spring 
he  had  been  seeing  a  bear  track  so  one  day 
he  said  to  his  wife,  'I'll  take  along  my  gun.' 
The  gun  was  a  76  model  Winchester.  He  had 
shells  for  it  that  he  loaded  himself.  He 
walked  along  through  short  thick  pines  and 
thick  brush.  There  were  some  very  large 
pine  trees,  several  having  been  blown  down 
in  heavy  storms.  As  Hank  walked  quietly 
around  a  large,  fallen  tree,  a  large  bear  rose 
up  out  of  his  bed.  Hank  was  not  over  30 
feet  from  the  bear.  He  fired  as  quickly  as  he 
could  but  over-shot,  hitting  the  bear  in  the 
shoulder.  The  bear  started  for  him.  He 
quickly  tried  to  throw  another  shell  into  the 
gun,  but  being  a  reloaded  shell,  it  had  swol- 
j  len  and  stuck,  and  he  could  not  get  that  shell 
J  out — he  was  helpless — but  turned  to  fight. 
!  He  fought  that  bear — no  one  can  ever  know 
i  how  long — we  could  only  guess  by  the  line 
j  of  blood  and  rocks.  Hank's  elbows  were 
i  both  bitten  to  a  pulp, — as  the  bear  would  try 
to  get  his  head  in  his  mouth,  Hank  would 
guard  his  face  with  his  elbows.  It  was  evi- 
dent that  the  bear  left  him  for  dead;  as  Hank 
had  tied  his  wounds  with  his  shirt  and  had 
started  for  home.  The  bear  evidently  heard 
him  and  came  back.  Hank  tried  to  climb 
a  small  quakenasp  tree  or  bush,  but  the  bush 
proved  too  small  and  he  could  not  climb 
high  enough.  The  bear  reached  up,  got  him 
by  the  heel  and  pulled  him  down  by  tearing 
away  all  the  flesh  from  his  heels.  The  bear 
succeeded  in  getting  Hank's  head  into  his 
mouth,  crushing  his  skull.  The  next  day 
Hank  was  found,  cared  for  and  buried  by- 
friends.  •  The  trail  of  the  bear  was  followed 
with   dogs   the    second    day.      He   was   found 


6') 


about  five  miles  away.  When  he  heard  the  doing  guard  duty  on  the  Union  Pacific  R  R 
dogs  he  turned  to  fight  and  was  shot.  Hank  His  name  appears  on  the  honor  roll  of '  St 
had  been  bitten  33  times  and  the  bear  was  |  Mark's  Episcopal  Church  Chevenne  and 
shot  high  up  on  the  shoulder.  I  am  sure  I  Memorial  Cross,  Laramie,  and  Jn  the 
this  was  the  most  tragic  death  that  any  man  ."Bronze  Memorial  Tablet"  in  the  corridor 
ever  met  with  a  bear,  and  he  an  old  bear  :  of  the  State  House  in  Cheyenne.  Mrs  Bond 
hunter.  Hank  was  one  of  our  best  men,  he  took  an  active  part  in  the  organization' of  the 
was  the  sou  of  honor  and  I  am  glad  that  his  ,  first  American  Legion  Auxiliary  unit  in 
name  is  to  be  recorded  with  the  early  Wyo-  Wyoming  at  Buffalo  in  January  of  1920 
ming  History.  The  bear  was  the  biggest  |  holding  the  office  of  Vice  and  Acting  Presi- 
bear  ever  seen  in  the  Black  Hills.  His  hide  dent  during  that  vear.  During  19?3-1924  she 
was  stuffed  and  measured  a  little  over  9  feet.  ;  served  as  chairman  of  the  State  Executive 
It  was  exhibited  at  the  fair  at  Omaha."  Board  and  was  always  keenly,  interested   in 

MISS  ELIZABETH  SPAETH.  |  any  plan  for  the  aid  and  comfort  of  the  ex- 
service  man.  She  was  a  member  of  the 
'Friends  in   Council,"  the  oldest  Study   Club 


AN  APPRECIATION 


known  McLean  family  of  Indiana. 


tion.      Mrs.   Bond  spoke  with  much  pride  of 


The  only  daughter  in  a  household  of  boys  J?L£ V°  "£ °™ry   ancestor.   Daniel    McLean, 

she   had   unusual   social   and   educational   ad-  '      L  S    T'l            ^TfJ^^ 

vantages  which  helped  to  develop  in  her  the  J   ",!           ^                  In  January  of  1921  Mrs. 

qualities  of  mind  and  heart  that  contributed  5 °" Vstoric £  S J    ™   ^   ^aTni£atlon 

to  her  vivid  and  attractive  personality.  !  r  *   tl     h    t          \%       T"  aS  the  Johns?n 

^  In   her  early   twenties   she   was   married   to  C°Unty        ,St°nCal     SoCiety' 
Fred  Bond,  also  a  native 
ike  lure  of  the  West  ana   v 

jther  T?«nt  haH  3lrpaHv  »ct,Ki;ct,0j  ti,«m  !ec.te9-     .during     19Z3     Mrs.     Bonds     health 


serving    as    its 


a  ive     owan    who  haH  fel°    ^eta^     Th™ug"  her  efforts  a  large  num 

st  and  who  w  th  wf twin    ^r  °f  valuable  "ecords  and  relics  were  col 
si  ana  \\  no  witn  nis  twin    \0^^0a        t^,,.-;.,™.     irm     u  t->       i»       i       <  . 


brother  Frank  had  already  established  them-  f^wi'     ue.^t 

selves    in    surveying   and   engineering   circles  KuS        °Sf™  indicated  and  the 

in  Wyoming  ,ow    altltude    of    California    was    trrJ    with 

mi                               ,            j      ^i    •      i  little  success.     During  her  soiourn       »rp  chn 

The    young    couple    made    their    home    in  i^j  fr,Q  „iooe„M     f     8    '•      ^J01101         re  snr 

r*u                     j            i        j                   .i    •  nad  the  pleasure  of  meeting  manv  r       irienrU 

Chevenne   and   numbered  among  their   many  „„j    „,„i  •                                Is        ,y  \      1™'1Gj 

x-  ■      j       ,i               .                            P            .        ,■'  and    making    new    ones,    but    she    lono-prl    to 

friends    those    whose    names    figure    in    the  ,-„+„,.„   +^   w      JT-           % u          j        10ilfeeu    lo 

|r?Wth  and  upbuiiding  of  the  S!ate     Whih  ,  f^ "c&oK T h*'  iSf  bVuS  "IS 

K  Wa^TveS  ^Keen„etbh0rwU!;rchc;i,'°  reSl,hb^de  f  ""ftS*  "d  4 
liamson  Cheyenne,  with  Dean  Samuel  West,  an  old 

t      1001    a/t       «      j  11   j    .      d    rx  ,     ,and   valued   friend,   officiating.      Pall   bearers 

In  189,  Mr.  Bond  was  called  to  Buffalo  \  consisting  of  old  friends  of  the  family  With 
to  act  as  Engineer  in  the  construction  of  the  i  the  passing  of  Mrs.  Bond,  Wyoming  has  lost 
city  water  system  and  being  favorably  mi-  !  a  valuable  citizen,  one  who  ever  haH  the  wel- 
pressed  with  the  northern  counties  of  Wyo-  |  f are  of  the  community  in  which  she  lived  at 
ming,     he     removed    his    family    to     Buffalo  { heart. 


where  they  resided  for  several  years.  Mrs. 
Bond  was  an  active  worker  in  St.  Luke's 
Church  and  Sunday  School  where  the  foun- 
dation was  laid  for  many  staunch  friends  in 


Contributed. 


CARBON    COUNTY    COPPER 


later    years.      It    was    at    this    time    that    the  j  (By  J.   C.   Kennedy,   C.    E.   E.   M.,   Saratoga 


third  son,  Fred  Avery,  was  born.     Mr.  Bond 


Wyoming) 


returned  to  Cheyenne  to  assume  the  duties  The  Sierra  Madre  system  of  mountains 
ot  State  Engineer,  was  stricken  and  died  of  j  extending  from  Tierra'Del  Fuego  to  Cape 
tvPh°ldiuVer  in  1903  during  his  term  of  Barrow  on  the  Arctic  seas,  and  embracing 
office.  The  support  of  the  family  falling  !  not  onlv  the  continental  divides  of  two  con 
upon  the  widow,  Airs.  Bond  fitted  herself  for  tinents,  but  numerous  branch,  auxiliary  and 
the  position  of  State  Librarian,  to  which  she  j  parallel  ranges,  forms  the  longest  and"  most 
brought  the  ability  and  energy  which  contri-  j  important  mineral  zone  on  this  round  earth 
buted  largely  to  the  high  efficiency  of  that  |  0f  ours;  most  important  not  onlv  in  the  pro- 
institution.  For  a  brief  period  while  her  i  duction  of  the  precious  and  nobler  metals  but 
older  sons  were  in  business  in  Newcastle.  ,  the  commoner  metals  as  well  The  metals 
Mrs.  Bond  made  her  home  in  that  town.     In    both   common   and   precious,   by   great   odds' 


the  spring  of   1917   Mrs.   Bond  came  to  Buf 
falo    as    Librarian    of    the    Johnson    County 


have  been  the  most  important  factors  in  the 
development  of  the  human  race  which  can  be 


Library.      She   had   the   fullest   confidence   of  j  named.     Without  them  we  would  still  be  in 
the    Board    and    the    respect    and    admiration    this  year  1903,  no  farther  advanced  in  condi- 


of  the  patrons  whom  she  delighted  to  serve 
Under    her    direction    the    Library    has    won 


tion  than  that  of  the  primitive  cave  man. 
It  is  fortunate  for  the  future  of  Wyoming 


much   favorable    comment   for   its   up-to-date    that  this  svstem  of  "mountains   traverses   the 
equipment  and  competent  management.    Mrs.    State;   for  there  are  such  large  areas  in  this 


Bond  had  two  sons  in  war  service,  Kenneth 


as    well    as    other    states    west    of    the    100th 


W.,   who   served   in   the    Engineer   Corps,   A.  j  Meridian,  which  can  never  be  brought  und-r 
E.    F.,   and    Fred    A.,    who    was   killed    while    cultivation,   that,  were  it   not   for  the  metals, 


70 


metallic  earths,  minerals  and  salts  within  its 
borders,  it  could  never  rank  as  high  in  the 
production  of  wealth  as  her  sister  states  in 
the    East,   notwithstanding   her   great   area. 

From  a  point  toward  the  west  side  line  of 
Carbon  County  to  a  point  in  southern  Fre- 
mont County,  the  uplift  which  produced  the 
Rocky  Mountains  has  not  been  pronounced 
enough  to  lift  the  igneous  and  primary  rocks 
through  the  burden  of  the  sedimentary  rocks 
which  originally  covered  the  greater  part  of 
the  West.  In  this  section,  other  than  at  iso- 
lated points,  it  will  be  useless  to  look  for 
metallic  ores;  but  outside  of  this  limited  por- 
tion of  the  Continental  Divide,  the  conditions 
are  equally  as  favorable  as  in  Colorado  on 
the  south  and  Montana  on  the  north. 

The  State  Geologist  has  given  this  conven- 
tion a  comprehensive  review  of  the  mines, 
the  minerals  and  the  mining  development 
of  the  State.  In  this  brief  paper  the  writer 
will  confine  himself  to  one  metal,  copper, 
and  to  one  locality  of  its  existence  of  many 
in  the  State,  viz.,  Carbon  County. 

As  indicated  in  a  preceding  paragraph  the 
high  portion  of  the  Sierra  Madre  system  ter- 
minates toward  the  western  border  of  Car- 
bon County.  From  the  southern  boundary 
of  the  County  and  of  the  State  to  this  point 
of  termination,  the  existing  conditions  for 
the  deposition  of  metallic  ores  are  ideal,  and 
are  the  same  as  in  Colorado  to  the  south. 
We  have  the  granitoid  rocks,  the  granites, 
gneisses  and  syenites,  flanked  by  the  Al- 
gonkian  schists,  the  Cambrian  quartzites,  the 
Silurian  limestones,  all  cut  and  torn  at  dif- 
ferent points  by  eruptive  dykes  of  diorite, 
amygdaloidal  diabase  and  other  porphyritic 
rocks.  Some  of  these  dykes  are  very  per- 
sistent and  extend  for  miles.  These  forma- 
tions are  the  homes  of  the  precious  and  other 
metals. 

In  the  last  two  years  nearly  all  the  cop- 
per ores  known  have  been  found  in  this  sec- 
tion— native  copper,  the  oxides,  the  carbon- 
ates and  the  sulphides.  Nearly  a  complete 
collection  of  the  copper  minerals  can  be  made 
in  this  region.  This  collection  would  contain 
native  copper,  cuprite,  melaconite,  melachite, 
azurite,  bornite,  covellite,  marcasite,  chal- 
copyrite,  chalcocite  and  crysocolla. 

One  remarkable  and  almost  universal  fea- 
ture of  the  district  is  that  when  enough  work 
has  been  done  to  disclose  a  permanent  vein 
with  continuous  ore  streak,  the  percentage  of 
copper  has  been  unusually  high,  rarely  falling 
below  30  per  cent,  which  is  nearly  typical 
percentage  of  pure  chalcopyrite,  while  consid- 
erable masses  of  black  oxide  and  copper 
glance  run  from  50  to  65  per  cent. 

As  is  known  to  some  of  you  the  Medicine 
Bow  range  diverges  sharply  from  the  main 
Sierra  Madre  range  at  the  S.  E.  corner  of 
North  Park,  Colorado,  where  the  North 
Platte  River  leaves  the  Park  at  the  south 
line  of  Wyoming,  these  ranges  approach  each 
other  and  immediately  diverge  again — the 
Sierra  Madre  extending  northwesterly  and 
the  Medicine  Bow  in  a  northerly  direction. 
The   copper  belt  is   spread  like  a  blanket  on 


both  sides  of  the  Continental  Divide,  and  ex- 
tends for  65  miles  along  the  range  to  the 
outlet  of  North  Park  where  swinging  across 
the  valley  it  extends  northerly  along  the 
western  slope  of  the  Medicine  Bow  for  a  dis- 
tance of  50  miles  more— a  total  length  of 
115  miles. 

What  is  now  generally  known  as  the 
Grand  Encampment  mining  district  embraces 
what  are  known  locally  as  the  Battle,  the 
Bridger,  the  Beaver  Creek,  the  Pearl  and  the 
North  Platte  mining  districts.  The  incep- 
tion of  extended  prospecting  and  develop- 
ment in  this  region  is  somewhat  peculiar,  and 
illustrates  the  fact  that  men  often  build  bet- 
ter than  they  know,  and  that  ephemeral 
movements,  undertaken  from  purely  selfish 
motives  by  a  few  men,  with  little  thought 
of  the  future,  have  often  times  grown  into 
extensive  operations  of  the  most  important 
and  beneficent  character. 

In  the  later  70's,  Al  Huston,  one  of  the 
earliest  settlers  on  Cow  Creek  in  Carbon 
County,  and  a  noted  hunter,  trail-maker  and 
guide  discovered  gold  in  the  Purgatory  re- 
gion, six  miles  south  of  the  present  town  of 
Encampment.  In  1895,  he  located  a  lead 
which  showed  at  the  surface  a  large  amount 
of  free  gold,  calling  it  the  Golden  Eagle.  The 
following  year  this  came  to  the  notice  of  two 
or  three  outside  gentlemen,  who  in  connec- 
tion with  gentlemen  in  Rawlins  in  the  latter 
part  of  1896  staked  out  the  town  of  Encamp- 
ment. They  enlisted  the  services  of  a  news- 
paper correspondent  who  was  more  or  less 
on  his  "uppers,"  but  who  possessed  a  facile 
pen  and  a  picturesque  vocabulary.  He  pro- 
ceeded to  flood  the  country  with  the  most 
startling  accounts  of  gold  and  other  discov- 
eries, of  stage  coach  accidents  and  other 
mythical  occurrances,  keeping  the  name 
Grand  Encampment  constantly  before  the 
public.  The  object  was  to  boom  the  section 
as  a  gold  region  and  sell  lots.  The  writer 
does  not  believe  that  the  promoters  knew  of 
the  previous  copper  discoveries  in  the  region. 
If  they  did,  they  cared  little  for  them,  as  the 
red  metal  at  that  time  did  not  hold  so  pro- 
minent a  place  in  the  metal  markets  of  the 
world. 

However,  22  years  and  16  years  before  the 
date  of  the  Purgatory  excitement,  George 
Doane,  who  had  previously  been  in  the  min- 
ing camps  of  Leadville  and  Aspen,  located 
the  Rambler  lode  near  the  shore  of  Battle 
Lake,  16  miles  west  of  Encampment,  a  lode 
which  is  destined  to  become  one  of  the 
heaviest  producers  in  the  district.  But  others 
had  been  there  before  Doane.  He  found 
trenches  and  shallow  shafts  on  the  Rambler 
vein,  and  at  least  two  old  chains  near  by,  one 
of  which  was  provided  with  loop-holes  for 
defense.  Similar  trenches,  pits  and  shafts 
then  existed  on  the  other  copper  leads  along 
the  range  to  the  northwest  toward  the  Rude- 
feha. 

As  long  ago  as  1879,  at  least,  many  cop- 
per leads  were  discovered  along  the  Medicine 
Bow  range  on  the  east  side  of  the  North 
Platte  Valley.  It  is  for  copper  that  Carbon 
County  is  to  be  renowned  all  over  the  world, 
thouch   there   will  be   in   time   a   considerable 


71 


production    of   gold,    silver   and    lead,    not    to 
mention  coal  and  oil. 

In  a  paper  of  this  kind  the  best  thing 
which  could  possibly  be  given  would  be  ac- 
curate figures  of  actual  production.  The  wri- 
ter regrets  that  these  cannot  be  given  com- 
plete. Those  that  have  them  in  the  case 
of  each  particular  mine  or  prospect  will  not 
produce  them.  The  State  Geologist,  who 
should  have  them,  cannot  get  them  under 
the  present  law.  The  best  thing  that  can  be 
done  is,  from  some  .familiarity  with  the  dis- 
trict, to  give  as  close  an  approximation  as 
possible.  The  Rudefeha  has  shipped  in  round 
numbers  $500,000  worth  of  ore.  This  ran  in 
carload  lots  from  23  to  34  per  cent  in  metal- 
Vc  copper.  There  are  about  10,000  tons  of 
ore  on  the  dump  which  can  be  run  over  the 
tramway  to  the  Encampment  smelter,  con- 
centrated and  smelted  at  a  profit.  During  the 
past  year  a  tunnel  started  on  the  adjacent 
osceola  ground  has  cut  the  Rudefeha  vein 
at  a  point  356  feet  below  the  collar  of  the 
main  shaft.  The  vein  at  this  depth  is  wider 
and  of  the  same  grade  as  that  in  the  bottom 
of  the  old  workings.  The  amount  of  un- 
stoped  ore  between  the  tunnel  level  and  the 
sunace  is  immense  and  estimated  to  be  of 
the  value  of  $1,000,000.  The  lateral  extent 
oi.^fie  vein  or  ore  chute  has  not  been  deter- 
mined; but  enough  can  be  seen  to  prove 
that  this  is  to  be  one  of  the  greatest  copper 
producers  of  the  world. 

1  he  Doane  Rambler  has  shipped,  all  told, 
about  60  carloads  of  ore.  The  last  twelve 
carloads,  shipped  by  the  company  which  now 
owns  it,  averaged  40  to  70  per  cent  of  metallic 
copper.  The  average  value  per  ton  was 
$^/.68,  the  average  gross  value  per  car  was 
$2,008.45,  the  average  net  value  per  car  was 
$1,849.75,  and  the  net  value  of  the  twelve 
cars  was  $22,197.03.  A  car  shipped  to  the 
State  Ore  Sampling  Company,  Denver  on 
December  31st,  1900,  gave  the  following  re- 
sults: Percentage  of  copper  51.23  per  cent, 
value  per  ton  $123.42,  gross  value  of  car 
$2,359.36,  and  net  .value  of  car  $1,981.27. 

Some  of  these  12  cars  of  ore  as  well  as 
most  of  that  previously  shipped  by  Doane 
yielded  from  51  to  52  per  cent  copper.  A 
prominent  mining  engineer  has  estimated  the 
Rambler  dump  to  contain  $120,000  worth  of 
copper.  A  large  amount  of  ore  is  blocked 
out  which  carries  from  12  to  26  per  cent  of 
copper. 

The  Kurtz-Chatterton,  located  many  years 
before  the  name. Encampment  was  known  to 
the  world,  shipped  a  carload  of  ore  in  1891, 
and  200  tons  of  concentrates  to  the  Encamp- 
ment smelter  since  its  erection. 

The  Charter  Oak  near  Calf  Creek,  the 
Evening  Star  on  Beaver  Creek  and  the  so- 
called  "Cox  Mine"  near  the  mouth  of  Big 
Creek,  have  shipped  one  car  each  of  copper 
ore.  The  ore  from  the  Evening  Star  and  the 
Cox,  was  of  very  high  grade,  the  latter  con- 
sisting mainly  of  copper  glance. 

For  the  past  one  and  a  half  years  no  ore 
has  been  shipped  to  outside  smetlers;  but  at 
least  70  prospects  or  mines  in  the  district 
are  prepared  to  send  more  or  less  ore  to 
the  enlarged  Encampment  smelter  when  it  is 
readv    to    "blow   in"    the    second    time.      The 


writer  takes  a  most  conservative  view  of 
all  mines  and  prospects.  Furthermore  he  does 
not  own  a  single  copper  claim  in  the  State 
of  Wyoming.  He  is  not  a  prophet  or  the 
son  of  a  prophet;  but  he  will  hazard  the 
prediction  that  at  least  30  of  the  claims  al- 
ready located  will  become  mines  of  consid- 
erable production. 

The  most  intelligent  prospecting  has  not 
yet  been  done.  The  prospecting  of  the  fu- 
ture which  is  to  disclose  the  large  ore  bodies 
at  present  unknown  is  to  be  underground 
and  not  on  the  surface. 

Besides  the  prospects  and  mines  alreadv 
mentioned,  those  which  are  very  promising 
are  the  Syndicate,  Eeighton-Gentry,  Copper 
Queen,  Osceola,  Copper  Belt,  Paris,  Has- 
kms  Continental,  Blackfoot,  Buelah,  Hag- 
garty-Jordan,  Portland,  Hercules,  Gertrude, 
Hidden  Treasure,  Keener-Price,  Verde,  Corn- 
stock,  Great  Lakes  and  Moon  Anchor;  the 
Aetna,  Newsboy  Beaver,  Kearns,  and  others 
in  the  Beaver  Creek  section;  the  Mt.  Zirkel, 
Coldwater,  Big  Creek,  Big  Horn,  Tully  and 
others  in  the  Pearl  section,  the  Dewey  and 
Elk  Mt.  in  the  Medicine  Bow  range,  and 
others  in  the  whole  copper  belt. 

In  this  connection  it  is  proper  to  mention 
the  now  famous  New  Rambler.  While  in  the 
southwestern  part  of  Albany  County,  3  miles 
from  the  Carbon  County  line,  it  "is  never- 
theless in  the  North  Platte  drainage  area, 
and  17  miles  nearer  Encampment  than  Lara- 
mie. The  enteprising  people  of  the  latter  citv 
have  received  and  deserve  most  of  the  bene- 
fits from  the  output  of  this  mine;  but  2,000 
tons  of  its  ore  have  gone  to  the  Encamp- 
ment smelter  and  have  been  converted  to 
high  grade  matter. 

Several  prospects  near  the  Rambler,  in  the 
Douglas  Creek  district,  are  coming  into  pro- 
minence as  producers  of  copper  ore.  A  pe- 
culiar feature  of  the  ores  of  the  Rambler 
and  other  prospects  of  that  section  is  that 
they  carry  the  metal  platinum  in  commercial 
quantities,  this  being  one  of  but  three  or 
four  places  in  the  world  where  platinum  is 
found  in  place  as  the  constituent  of  an  ore. 

In  this  connection  also,  I  will  mention  that 
there  are  three  or  four  other  copper  fields 
in  Carbon  County,  viz.,  near  the  uplifts  im- 
mediately N.  W.  of  Rawlins,  in  the  Seminoe 
Mountains  N.  E.  of  Rawlins,  and  in  the  Shir- 
ley Mountains  and  Freezeout  Hills,  stretch- 
ing easterly  from  the  North  Platte  Cano.i 
in  the  N.  E.  part  of  the  County.  In  these 
localities,  the  copper  ore  occurs  mainly  in 
the  Carboniferous  limestones,  flanking  the 
primitive  rocks  which  form  the  core  of  these 
uplifts. 

The  main  development  in  the  copper  belt 
of  southern  Carbon  County  has  occurred 
during  the  past  two  years.  During  this  time 
the  stage  road  from  Walcott  to  Encamp- 
ment has  been  lined  with  teams  loaded  with 
tons  upon  tons  of  mining  machinery,  mining 
supplies  and  goods  for  Encampment  and 
other  mining  towns,  until  at  the  present 
time  there  is  more  freight  loaded  on  to  wag- 
ons at  the  little  station  of  Walcott  than  from 
any  other  station  across  Wyoming,  from 
Cheyenne  to  Evanston.  both  included.  The 
district  has  now  43  steam  hoisting  and  pump- 


72 


ing  plants.  Including  the  new  Rambler  it 
has  two  smelters,  four  concentrators,  two 
stamp  mills  and  a  16-mile  aerial  tramway. 
The  tramway  cost  $350,000,  the  Encampment 
smelter,  roaster,  and  converter  and  briquet- 
ting  machine  more  than  $257,000,  the  500-ton 
concentrating  plant,  $110,000  and  the  power 
plant,  dam,  and  power  house  $125,000. 

From   Coutant   Collection. 


Historian's  Note.  At  this  point  the  man- 
uscript ends.  The  abrupt  end  leads  to  the 
conclusion  that  the  manuscript  is  an  unfin- 
ished one  or  else  the  remaining  text  has  been 
lost. 


THE    CHEYENNE   WEATHER 
STATION 

(By    Emma   J.    Dobbins) 

In  1869  Col.  A.  J.  Meyers,  head  of  the 
United  States  Signal  Service,  suggested  a 
scheme  of  weather  reports  and  signals,  which 
was  not  carried  out  until  February  9,  1870, 
when  Congress  approved  the  plan.  A  num- 
ber of  young  men  were  instructed  at  Ft. 
Meyer,  Va.,  and  later  seventeen  of  them 
were  sent  out  to  establish  weather  stations 
at  various  points  throughout  the  country. 

To  Asa  C.  Dobbins  was  assigned  the  sta- 
tion at  Cheyenne,  Wymoing  Territory,  then 
a  little  frontier  town  on  the  Union  Pacific 
raliroad,  but  located  high  upon  a  plateau  of 
the  Rocky  Mountains,  at  an  elevation  of 
over  six  thousand  feet.  Mr.  Dobbins  arrived 
October  15th,  1870,  and  made  the  first  obser- 
vation November  1st,  1870. 

He  opened  the  office  in  a  frame  building  at 
the  corner  of  Sixteenth  and  Hill  streets  (now 
Capitol  Avenue).  The  lower  floor  was  oc- 
cupied by  the  Western  Union  Telegraph 
Company,  and  on  the  upper  floor  the  wea- 
ther station  was  established.  The  equipment 
consisted  of  the  following  instruments;  a 
barometer,  maximum  and  minimum  ther- 
mometers, wet  and  dry  bulb,  rain  gauge, 
and  anemometer  to  record  the  velocity  of 
the  wind;  there  was  also  a  large  wind  vane 
erected  on  the  roof,  with  connections  coming 
down  through  the  roof  and  united  to  a  piv- 
oted arrow,  swinging  in  a  circular  plane, 
marked  with  the  cardinal  points  of  the  com- 
pass, which  was  attached  to  the  ceiling.  The 
shifting  arrow  swinging  from  one  point  to 
another,  indicated  the  direction  from  whence 
the  wind  was  blowing. 

The  furnishings  of  the  office  consisted  of 
a  desk,  office  chair,  two  common  chairs,  a 
cot,  washstand,  a  stove  and  a  clock.  This 
constituted  the  Sergeant's  office  and  home. 
At  first,  the  Weather  Bureau  was  under  the 
Army  and  Navy  regulations — thus  we  have 
the  "Sergeant."  The  office  and  the  observer 
were  regarded  as  a  sort  of  a  joke  and  Mr. 
Dobbins"  was  dubbed  "the  Weather  Clerk," 
and,  of  course,  was  blamed  for  all  weather 
not  pleasing  to  the  individual. 

On  February  20,  1872,  the  bureau  or  office 
was  moved  to  the  corner  of  16th  and  Fer- 
guson Streets  (how  Carey  Avenue).  June 
20th,  1874,  the  residence  of  Sergeant  Dob- 
bins, located  on  the  south  side  of  17th  Street, 


between  Ransom  and  Dodge  (Central  and 
Warren)  became  the  official  headquarters  of 
the  weather  bureau,  where  it  remained  until 
December,  1883.  The  next  move  was  to  the 
Commercial  block,  218^  West  16th  Street. 
This  building  is  the  property  of  Senator  F. 
E-  Warren,  and  fhe  office  remained  in  this 
building  just  twenty  years,  when  it  was 
moved  to  its  present  location  in  the  Citizens 
Bank  building. 

During  the  time  the  office  was  situated  at 
the  corner  of  16th  and  Carey  Avenue,  it 
was  inspected  by  Lieut.  A.  W.  Greely,  who 
afterwards  became  Chief  Signal  Officer,  and 
later  conducted  the  ill-fated  expedition  to  the 
North  Pole.  In  1881,  Mr.  Dobbins  was  de- 
tailed by  the  United  States  Government  to 
accompany  Professor  Langley  on  a  scientific 
expedition  to  Mount  Whitney,  California,  as 
meteorologist  to  the  party  of  scientific  re- 
search. 

The  writer,  when  visiting  the  weather  of- 
fice recently,  was  struck  with  the  contrast 
between  the  first  office  with  its  crude  fur- 
nishings and  that  of  the  present  one.  Hand- 
some rugs,  massive  furniture  of  elegant  sim- 
plicity, modern  appliances  greeted  the  eye  of 
the  beholder  as  she  surveyed  the  four  rooms 
of  the  department. 

Mr.  George  W.  Pitman,  the  present  effi- 
cient weather  director,  very  courteously  ex- 
plained the  improved  instruments  and  meth- 
ods in  present  use;  also  produced  several  of 
the  old  records.  Observational  work  is  simi- 
lar to  years  ago,  except  automatic  instru- 
ments made  through  the  application  of  elec- 
tricity has  lessened  the  work  of  keeping  hour- 
ly records  of  sunshine,  wind  direction,  wind 
velocity,  and  precipitation.  The  old  records, 
however,  are  carefully  protected,  and,  we  are 
told,  their  value  is  more  apparent  as  time  ' 
goes  on,  in  the  way  of  establishing  laws,  that 
govern  the  future  weather  changes  in  this 
locality.  The  Cheyenne  office  is  headquar- 
ters for  the  state  and  there  are  eighty-two 
sub-stations  under  Mr.  Pitman's  jurisdiction. 
His  office  force  consist  of  three  assistants 
and  a  messenger.  Daily  forecasts  (except 
Sunday)  are  now  telegraphed  to  Lusk,  Doug- 
las, Cody,  Thermopolis,  Rawlins,  Evanston, 
Pocotella,  Sheridan,  Newcastle,  Torrington 
and  Lander.  The  only  broadcasting  station 
is  at  Sheridan. 

For  years,  the  United  States  Weather  Bur- 
eau has  exchanged  daily  reports  by  telegraph 
with  Mexico  and  Canada,  while  all  the  other 
countries  of  Europe  exchange  with  one  an- 
other in  the  same  way.  Our  weather  bur- 
eau also  inaugurated  the  experiment  of  mak- 
ing a  daily  telegraphic  weather  chart  of  the 
Northern  Hemisphere.  This  chart  has  now 
become  indispensable  to  the  forecaster.  Re- 
cently a  similar  chart  has  been  made  every 
day  at  Toronto  by  the  Canadian  meteoro- 
logists. 

Fewer  foolish  questions  are  asked  at  the 
weather  office  now  than  formerly,  and  the 
information  depended  upon.  This  is  due  pro- 
bably because  forecasts  are  now  based  upon 
scientific  knowledge.  The  autoist  inquires 
the  weather  conditions  before  taking  a  long 
trip,   pleasure   seekero    concult    the   office   be- 


73 


fore  planning  picnics,  the  farmer  turns  al- 
most daily  for  advice  concerning  his  crops 
to  the  forecasts,  and  so  it  goes.  The  wea- 
ther forecaster  is  no  longer  a  joke,  but  is 
champion  of  thousands  of  business  men. 

Since  Mr.  Dobbins'  regime,  there  have 
been  twenty  men  in  charge  of  the  local  office, 
including  Mr.  Pitman.  So  time  speeds  on, 
and  as  I  looked  at  the  clock  in  the  weather 
office  and  heard  it  tick,  I  thought  of  the 
OLD  clock  that  ticked  off  the  seconds  in 
the  first  weather  office.  The  only  relic  of 
that  time  is  still  ticking  merrily  away  as  I 
write,  after  fifty-four  years  of  constant  ser- 
vice. 

"Tic  Toe,  old  Clock, 
What  are  you  saying  now?" 


NOTES  AND  COMMENTS 

(State  Historian) 
That  interest  in  Wyoming  History  is  not 
dormant  is  manifested  by  the  number  of 
clubs  and  various  organizations  which  are 
now  featuring  the  study  of  local  Wyoming 
History.  In  some  counties  the  work  is  func- 
tioning through  old  Settlers  Associations  and 
in  others  through  departments  in  the  various 
qjganized  groups  of  worker;  while  in  still 
otners  the  history  is  collected  and  preserved 
by  an  organized  County  Historical  Society. 
Of  these  societies  quite  the  largest  and  the 
most  far-reaching  in  its  scope  for  activity  is 
the  recentl  yincorporated  "Natrona  County 
Historical  Society."  Natrona  County  lies  in 
a  district  rich  in  historic  lore.  With  a  society 
having  a  well  defined  object,  a  large  and  en- 
thusiastic membership  of  pioneers  and  stud- 
ents of  history,  one  feels  confident  that  much 
hitherto  unpublished  history  will  eminate 
from  this  society. 


John  Hunton  Collection 

This  valuable  collection  which  is  a  recent 
gift  to  the  State  Historical  Department  from 
Mr.  Hunton  consists  of  two  leaflets  and 
sixty-five  original  documents.  The  leaflet 
"Regulations  Concerning  the  Granting  of 
License  to  Trade  with  the  Indians,"  was  is- 
sued by  the  War  Department  in  1847  and 
signed  by  W.  L-  Marcy,  Secretary   of  War. 

In  1859  the  War  Department  issued  "Gen- 
eral Orders  Number  7"  which  was  published 
for  the  information  and  government  of  the 
Sutlers  at  Army  Posts.  Signed  by  S.  Coop- 
er, Adjutant  General. 

There  are  articles  of  agreement  in  this  col- 
lection between  "Ward  and  Guerrier"  of  the 
first  part  and  "Gerry  and  Bordeaux"  of  the 
second  part  for  the  Indian  trade  in  1856. 
This  agreement  stipulates  prices  to  be  paid 
|for  Buffalo  Robes,  Beaver  Skins,  Wolf  Skins 
and  other  commodities  incident  to  the  In- 
dian trade. 

The  upper  Platte  Agency  Indian  trade, 
embraced  the  "South  Fork  of  the  Platte 
River  and  Arkansas  River  with  the  Arapahoe 
md  Cheyenne  Indians  and  White  River  and 
^and  Hills  with  a  band  of  Sioux  known 
is  the  Brule  and  Osage  Indians." 

There  is  a  letter  which  fixes  the  date  of 
he  building  of  the  Platte  Bridge. 


A  memoranda  is  signed  by  J.  L.  Grattan. 
Lieutenant    Grattan    was    a    victim    in    the 
Grattan  Massacre. 

At  Fort  Laramie  in  1855  Joseph  Mari- 
vale  collects  Joseph  Vilandry's  note  for 
$266.85. 

Joseph  Merivale,  Nick  Janis,  John  Rich- 
ard (Reshaw)  and  Joseph  Bissonette,  all 
these  men  signed  with  an  X.  (Bissonette 
accompanied  Stansbury  on  the  latter's  ex- 
ploring expedition  to  Salt  Lake  in  1852). 

John  M.  Hockaday  and  Company,  by  N. 
D.  Van  Eps,  gave  "due  bills"  for  services 
rendered  at  Amanda  Station  on  the  dates 
June  22nd,  23rd,  1859,  and  the  "Last  Will 
and  Testament  of  Elbridge  Gerry  (1854," 
and  the  signatures  of  Jules  Ecoffy,  and 
Adolph  Cuny  are  to  be  found  in  these  rec- 
ords. 

In  August,  1859  Mr.  Jefferson  Hunt  left 
a  mule  with  "Hiram  Lightner,  mail  agent  at 
Fort  Laramie,"  and  on  the  same  date  we  read 
"Received  Fort  Laramie  August  26th,  1859 
of  Jefferson  Hunt  one  Mare  Mule  Branded 
with  mule  shoe  and  lame  in  right  hind  leg. 
Russells,    Majors    and    Waddell,    By    Hiram 

!  Lighter."     And  on  December  29th,  1859  Mr. 

|  Hunt  requests  the  mail  agent  "to  deliver  the 
mule  to  bearer  of  the  order,  "Private  Robert 

I  Foot,  Co.  F.  2"  Dragoons  left  one  check  for 
one  thousand  ($1,000)   dollars  favor  of  S.  E. 

j  Ward    and    Company    or    order    dated,    Fort 
Kearney,  N.  T.,  6th  April  1860. 

|      Reverend     A.     Wright,     Post     Chaplain   at 

I  Fort  D.  A.  Russell  on  March  27th,  1871, 
writes  to  his  friend  Mr.  W.  G.  Bullock;  and 
Mr.  Bullock  receives  another  letter  signed  by 
Robert  Campbell;  but  perhaps  of  the  great- 
est intrinsic  value  in  the  entire  collection  is 
a  "Commission"  to  administer  oaths,  etc.," 
granted  to  Seth  E.  Ward  on  the  28th  day 
of  April  1856  and  signed  by  Sterling  Price, 
Governor  of  Missouri,  and  sealed  with  the 
Great  Seal  of  the  State  of  Missouri.  Ster- 
ling Price  afterwards  became  a  distinguished 
Major  General  in  the  Confederate  Army. 
^  On  August  24th,  1859  Private  Frank  H. 
Schaeffer  receives  his  honorable  discharge 
from  the  U.  S.  Army.  One  wonders  what 
became  of  this  young  German  with  "fair 
complexion  and  blue  eyes"  who,  at  the  age 
of  23,  enlisted  in  the  service  of  our  country, 
and  if  his  parents  ever  knew  that  after  five 
years  of  service  he  left  the  army  for  re-enlist- 
ment with  "character  good." 

There  are  other  items  in  this  collection  as 
fascinating  and  as  valuable  for  research  work 
to  the  student  of  history  as  those  we  have 
enumerated.  But  these  to  which  attention 
is  directed,  will  suffice  to  show  how  the 
wealth  of  the  State  Historical  Department 
has  been  enhanced  by  this  generous  gift  from 
Mr.  John  Hunton.  This  contribution  alone 
would  establish  Mr.  Hunton  as  one  who 
knows  historical  values,  but  Mr.  Hunton 
needs  no  introduction  to  the  citizens  of  Wyo- 
ming, as  it  is  well-known  that  he  has  lived 
continuously  in  Wyoming  since  1867.  His 
knowledge  of  the  history  of  Territory  and 
State  is  intimate  and  his  statements  are  au- 
thentic. 


74 


The  long  expected  "Life  of  James  Bridger" 
by  J.  Cecil  Alter,  has  appeared.  The  book 
is  by  far  the  most  pretentious  biography  of 
Bridger  which  has  ever  been  published.  The 
author  treats  his  subject  with  understanding 
and  sympathy  and  fortifies  his  statements 
v  ith  a  long  bibliography  and  the  book  has  a 
very  comprehensive  index.  This  is  history 
told  with  all  the  charm  of  the  storv  book. 


Announcement 

With  this  issue  of  the  Historical  Quarterly 
Bulletin  the  second  volume  closes.  Volume 
3  of  the  Bulletin  will  begin  with  the  July 
number  and  the  name  will  be  changed  to 
"Annals  of  Wyoming." 

The  Annals  will  be  published  with  a  cover, 
the  quality  of  the  paper  will  be  better,  the 
type  will  be  more  readable,  there  will  be  one, 
and  possibly  two  illustrations  and  twenty^ 
eight  pages  of  history. 

The  Bulletin  was  issued  primarily  for 
source  material  only  and  as  such,  the  "An- 
nals" will  be  continued.  There  is  a  wealth 
of  history  in  our  State  which  should  be  col- 
lected and  put  in  permanent  form  while  we 
have  with  us  those  strong  characters — men 
and  women  who  cantell  us  by  what  effort 
and  at  what  cost  they  made  this  great  com- 
monwealth. We  owe  it  to  them  that  the  story 
of  their  deeds  shall  be  perpetuated,  and  we 
owe  it  to  the  citizens  of  the  present  and  the 
future  that  they  shall  be  made  acquainted 
with  the  annals  of  their  State  and  thereby 
gain  inspiration  for  their  own  lives,  and  an 
appreciation  of  their  heritage.  In  the  past 
eighteen  months  we  have  collected  some 
valuable  source  material  which  has  never 
been  published  and  there  are  a  number  of 
manuscripts  now  in  process  of  completion. 
It  is  our  intention  to  publish  this  history  as 
rapidly  as  possible  and  to  increase  the  size 
of  the  "Annals"  as  our  funds  will  permit. 

The  publications  of  the  Department  are 
paid  for  out  of  the  State  Historian's  Conting- 
ent fund.  The  appropriation  of  the  Eight- 
eenth legislature  left  the  Department  in  the 
same  financial  difficulty  as  that  of  the  bien- 
nium  just  closed,  that  is,  without  sufficient 
funds  to  carry  on  the  work  of  the  Depart- 
ment as  prescribed  by  law.  It  therefore  be- 
comes necessary  to  make  a  change  in  the 
policy  of  the  "Annals":  either  the  circulation 
must  be  decreased  or  membership  in  the 
State  Historical  Society  must  be  increased. 
Membership  is  open  to  anyone.  The  annual 
dues  are  one  dollar  ($1.00)  paid  in  advance, 
and  all  publications  of  the  Department  are 
sent  to  members  for  the  year  without  further 
assessments.  Notice  of  delinquency  will  be 
sent  from  the  Department.  Beginning  with 
Volume  3  (July  number)  the  "Annals"  will 
be  sent  only  to  members  of  the  Society,  the 
Historical  Board,  the  Advisory  Board  and 
the  exchanges.  Attention  is  called  to  the 
membership  roll  and  to  the  exchange  lists 
to  be  found  elsewhere  in  this  issue.  It  is 
hoped  that  all  readers  of  the  Bulletin  will 
recognize  the  need  of  a  large  membership 
in  the  State  Historical  Society  and  respond 
by  sending  one  dollar  ($1.00)  to  the  Wyo- 
ming   State    Historical    Society    in    time    to 


receive  your  July  number  and  keep  your  file; 
complete.  Furthermore,  an  early  response! 
will  assist  the  State  Historian  in  estimating 
how  large  an  edition  will  need  to  be  issuec 
for  July. 

MRS.  CYRUS  BEARD, 
State   Historian. 


The  Wyoming  Historical  Quarterly  Bulle- 
tin exchanges  with  the  following  Histori- 
cal Societies  and  Institutions  of  Learning: 

American  Historical  Association,  Wash- 
ington, D.  C. 

Arizona  Pioneer  Historical  Society,  Phoe- 
nix, Arizona. 

Connecticut  Historical  Society,  Hartford, 
Connecticut. 

New  London  County  Historical  Society, 
New  London,  Conn. 

State  Historical  Society  of  Colorado,  Den- 
ver, Colorado. 

University  of  California  Library,  Berke- 
ley, California. 

California  State  Library,  Sacremento,  Cali- 
fornia. 

California  Historic-Genealogical  Society. 
San  Francisco,  Cal. 

Colburn  Library,  Colorado  College,  Color- 
ado Springs,  Colo. 

State  Historical  Society,  Boise,  Idaho. 

Historical  Department  of  Iowa,  Iowa  City, 
Iowa. 

State  Historical  Society  of  Iowa,  Des 
Moines,  Iowa. 

Northern  Indiana  Historical  Society,  South 
Bend,  Indiana. 

State  Historical  Society  of  Illinois,  Spring- 
field, Illinois. 

Kansas  State  Historical  Society,  Topeka, 
Kansas. 

Kentucky  State  Historical  Society,  Lex- 
ington, Kentucky. 

Old  Time  New  England,  2  Lynde  Street, 
Boston,  Mass. 

Lynn  Historical  Society,  Lynn,  Mass. 

Michigan  Historical  Commission,  Lansing, 
Mich. 

Minnesota  Historical  Society,  St.  Paul, 
Minnesota. 

State  Historical  Society  of  Missouri,  Col- 
umbia, Mo. 

Missouri  Historical  Society,  Jefferson  Me- 
morial, St.  Louis,  Mo. 

State  of  Montana  Historical  Library,  Hel- 
ena, Montana. 

Maryland  Historical  Society,  Baltimore, 
Maryland. 

Louisiana  Historical  Society,  New  Orleans, 
Louisiana. 

Nevada  Historical  Society,  Carson  City, 
Nevada. 

University  of  the  State  of  New  York,  Al- 
bany, New  York. 

New  York  Historical  Society,  170  Central 
Park  West,  New  York  City. 

New  York  Public  Library,  New  York. 

New  Hampshire  Historical  Society,  Con- 
cord, New  Hampshire. 

Historical  Society  of  New  Mexico,  Santa 
Fe,  New  Mexico. 

North  Dakota  Historical  Collections,  Bis- 
mark,  North  Dakota. 


75 


Western  Reserve  Historical  Society,  Cleve- 
land, Ohio. 

Oklahoma  Historical  Society,  Oklahoma 
City,  Oklahoma. 

Oregon  Historical  Society,  Portland,  Ore- 
gon. 

Onondago  Historical  Association,  Syra- 
:use,  N.  Y. 

Free  Library  of  Philadelphia,  Dept.  of 
Documents,  Philadelphia,  Pa. 

Wyoming  Historical  &  Geography  Society, 
Wilkes-Barre,  Pa. 

South  Dakota  Historical  Collections, 
Pierre,  South  Dakota. 

Smithsonian    Institution,    Washington,    D. 

Rice  Institute,  Houston,  Texas. 

Tennessee  Historical  Commission,  Nash- 
ville, Tennessee. 

State  Dept.  of  Archives  &  History,  Char- 
leston, W.  Virginia. 

Vermont  Historical  Society,  Montpelier, 
Vermont. 

Texas  State  Library,  Austin,  Texas. 

State  Historical  Society  of  Wisconsin, 
Madison,  Wisconsin. 

Miami  University,  Oxford,  Ohio. 

New  Jersey  Historical  Societv,  Newark, 
N.J. 

■•^South  Carolina  Historical  Society,  Charles- 
ton, S.  C. 

Historical  Society  of  Delaware,  Wilming- 
ton, Delaware. 

Historical  Society  of  Florida,  St.  Augus- 
tine, Florida. 

Washington  State  Historical  Society,  Ta- 
:0111a,  Washington. 

Virginia  Historical  Society,  Richmond, 
Virginia. 

Rhode  Island  Historical  Society,  Provid- 
:lence,  Rhode  Island. 

Historical  Society  of  Pennsylvania,  Phila- 
delphia, Pa. 

North  Carolina  Historical  Society,  Ral- 
egh, N.  C. 

Maine  Historical  Society,  Portland, 
Maine. 

Alabama  Historical  Society,  Tuscaloosa, 
Alabama. 

Dept.  of  Archives  &  History,  Atlanta, 
Georgia. 

District  Forester,  Forest  Service  Build- 
ing, Ogden,  Utah. 


The  following  newspapers  are  on  file  in  this 

office  and  the  Bulletins  are  sent  to  each  in 

exchange: 

Big    Horn    County    Rustler,    Basin,    Wyo- 
ming. 

Big  Piney  Examiner,  Big  Piney,  Wyoming. 

Buffalo  Bulletin,  Buffalo,  Wyoming. 

Buffalo  Voice,  Buffalo,  Wyoming. 
Burns  Herald,  Burns,  Wyoming. 

Casper  Daily  Tribune,  Casper,  Wyoming.  . 

Casper  Daily  Herald,  Casper,  Wyoming. 

Inland  Oil  Index,  Casper,  Wyoming. 

Wyoming  State  Tribune,  Cheyenne,  Wyo- 
ming. 

Park  County  Herald,  Cody,  Wyoming. 

Colony  News,  Colon}',  Wyoming. 

Cowley  Progress,  Cowley,  Wyoming. 

Douglas  Budget,  Douglas,  Wyoming. 


Douglas  Enterprise,  Douglas,  Wyoming. 
Wyoming  Labor  Journal,  Cheyenne,  Wyo- 
ming. 

Wyoming  Stockman-Farmer,  Cheyenne, 
Wyoming. 

The  Wyoming  Times,  Evanston,  Wyo- 
ming. 

Campbell  County  Record,  Gillette,  Wyo- 
ming. 

Gillette  News,  Gillette,  Wyoming. 

Glendo  Pioneer,  Glendo,  Wyoming. 

Glenrock  Gazette,   Glenrock,  Wyoming. 

Glenrock     Independent,     Glenrock,     Wyo- 

Greybull  Standard,  Greybull,  Wyoming. 

Guernsey   Gazette,   Guernsey,   Wyoming. 

Jackson   Hole  Courier,  Jackson,  Wyoming. 

Hillsdale  Review,  Hillsdale,  Wyoming. 

Kemmerer  Gazette,  Kemmerer,  Wyoming. 

Wyoming  State  Journal,  Lander,  Wyo- 
ming. 

Laramie  Republican-Boomerang,  Laramie, 
Wyoming  (daily). 

Laramie  Republican-Boomerang,  Laramie, 
Wyoming  (semi-weekly). 

Lightening  Flat  Flash,  Lightening  Flat, 
Wyoming. 

The  Lingle  News,  Lingle,  Wyoming. 

Lost  Springs  Times,  Lost  Springs,  Wyo- 
ming. 

Lusk   Herald,   Lusk,  Wyoming. 

Moorcroft   Leader,   Moorcroft,  Wyoming. 

The  News  Letter,  Newcastle,  Wyoming. 

Pinedale  Roundup,  Pinedale,  Wyoming. 

Pine  Bluffs  Post,  Pine  Bluffs,  Wyoming. 

Powell  Tribune,  Powell,  Wyoming. 

Rawlins  Republican,  Rawlins,  Wyoming. 

Riverton  Review,  Riverton,  Wyoming. 

Rock  River  Review,  Rock  River,  Wyo- 
ming. 

Rock  Springs  Rocket,  Rock  Springs, 
Wyoming. 

Saratoga  Sun,  Saratoga,  Wyoming. 

Thermopolis  Independent,  Thermopolis, 
Wyoming. 

Torrington  Telegram,  Torrington,  Wyo- 
ming. 

Weston  County  Gazette,  Upton,  Wyoming. 

Wheatland  Times,  Wheatland,  Wyoming. 

Worland  Grit,  Worland,  Wyoming. 

The   Homesteader,  Wright,  Wyoming. 

The  following  magazines  are  also  ex- 
changed: 

Midwest  Review,  Casper,  Wyoming. 

Union  Pacific  Coal  Company,  Rock 
Springs,  Wyoming. 

Union  Pacific  Magazine,  Omaha,  Neb. 

Wyoming  Churchman,  Laramie,  Wyoming. 

Stanolind  Record,  Casper,  Wyoming. 

Wyoming  Roads,  Cheyenne,  Wyoming. 

Erie  Railroad  Magazine,  New  York. 

National  Republican,  Washington,  D.   C. 

The  Rocky  Mountain  Herald,  Denver, 
Colorado. 


Members   of  the   Wyoming   State   Historical 
Society 

1.  Mr.    Pay  son    W.    Spaulding,    Evanston, 
Wyoming. 

2.  Mr.   M.    S.    Garretson,   New   York   City, 
N.  Y. 

3.  Mr.  Alfred  Williams,  Wheatland,  Wyo- 
ming. 


76 


4.  Mr.    E.    A.    Brininstool,    Los    Angeles, 
California. 

5.  Mr.      Charles      Ely     Adams,      Spokane, 
Washington. 

6.  Mr.  Edmund  Sevmour,  New  York  City, 
N.  Y. 

7.  Mr.  David  Wray,  Medicine  Bow,  Wyo- 
ming. 

8.  Mr.  F.  A.  Hadsell,  Rawlins,  Wyoming. 

9.  Mr.  I.  N.  Connes,  Saratoga,  Wyoming. 

10.  Mrs.  J.  L.  West,  Evanston,  Wyoming. 

11.  Mrs.  W.  H.  Hamilton,  Evanston,  Wyo- 

12.  Mrs.    L.    E.    Fosmer,    Evanston,   Wyo- 
ming. 

13.  Mrs.    B.    F.    Tedmon    Jr.,    Wheatland, 
Wyoming. 

14.  Mrs.  Mary  L.  Rennie,  Evanston,  Wyo- 
ming. 

15.  Mr.  J.  T.  Arnold,  Attica,  New  York. 

16.  Mr.  Wm.  C.  Snow,  Basin,  Wyoming. 

17.  Bishop  N.  S.  Thomas,  Laramie,  Wyo- 
ming. 

18.  Mrs.    N.    S.    Thomas,    Laramie,    Wyo- 
ming. 

19.  Mr.    Douglas    Fuller,    Cheyenne,    Wyo- 
ming. 

20.  Dr.  G.  R.  Hebard,  Laramie,  Wyoming. 

21.  Miss    Alice     Hebard,     Laramie,    Wyo- 
ming. 

22.  Mr.  Arthur  J.  Dickson,  Dayton,  Wyo- 
ming. 

23.  Mr.    E.    R.    Breisch,    Cheyenne,    Wyo- 
ming. 

24.  Mrs.   J.    C.    Van    Dyke,   Buffalo,    Wyo- 
ming. 

25.  Miss    Edith    K.    O.    Clark,    Cheyenne, 
Wyoming. 

26.  Judge    M.    C.    Brown,    Laramie,    Wyo- 
ming. 

27.  Mr.  James  Dickie,  Thermopolis,  Wyo- 
ming. 

28.  Mrs.  Anna  Peake,  Cody,  Wyoming. 
29.  Mr.  S.  A.  Eldred,  Cheyenne,  Wyoming. 

30.  Mr.  A.  C.  Newton,  Cody,  Wyoming. 

31.  Mr.  C.  A.  Marston,  Cody,  Wyoming. 

32.  Mr.  L.  L.  Newton,  Lander,  Wyoming. 

33.  Mr.  C.  E.  Hayden,  Cody,  Wyoming. 

34.  Mr.  Frank  Rue,  Cody,  Wyoming. 

35.  Mr.   Warren   Reid,   Codv,   Wyoming. 

36.  Mr.  R.  C.  Hargrave,  Cody,  Wyo. 

37.  Miss  Marjory  Ross,  Cody,  Wyoming. 

38.  Mrs.   1.   H.  Burgess,  Sheridan,  Wyo. 

39.  Mrs.  C.  E.  Ellis,  Difficulty,  Wyoming. 

40.  Mr.   Mark   Chapman,   Cheyenne,  Wyo- 
ming. 

41.  Mr.  Albert  Chapman,  Cheyenne,  Wyo- 
ming. 

42.  Mr.  Dan  Rees,  Cheyenne,  Wyoming. 

43.  Mr.  J.  A.  Shaw,  Binford,  Wyoming. 

44.  Mr.    A.    D.    Faville,    Cheyenne,    Wyo- 
ming. 

45.  Mr.    E.    T.    Bartley,    Cheyenne,    Wyo- 
ming. 

46.  Mr.    W.    R.    Dubois,    Cheyenne,    Wyo- 
ming. 

47.  Mr.  A.  R.  Smith,  Cheyenne,  Wyoming. 

48.  Mr.  W.  F.  Melvin,  Casper,  Wyoming. 

49.  Mr.  J.  W.  Skepper,  Bird  City,  Kansas. 

50.  Mrs.    Marie    Montabe    Saveresy,    Ther- 
mopolis, Wyoming. 

51.  Mrs.     George     S.     Smith,     Torrington, 
Wyoming. 


52.  Mr.   Jesse   Brown,    Sturgis,    South    Da- 
kota. 

53.  Mr.    W.    A.    Bonser,    Cheyenne,    Wyo- 
ming. 

54.  Mr.  R.  S.  Ellison,  Casper,  Wyoming. 

55.  Mr.    G.    W.    Stokes,    New    York    City, 
N.  Y. 

56.  Mr.  Charles  W.  Chase,  Gary,  Indiana. 

57.  Mr.  Charles  Blodgett,  Marshfield,  Wis- 
consin. 

58.  Mr.  V.  J.  Gregory,  Minneapolis,  Minn. 

59.  Mr.  Lloyd  Gaston  Smith,  Casper,  Wyo- 
ming. 

60.  Mr.    W.    F.    Hoker,    New    York    Citv, 
N.  Y. 

61.  Mr.  John  N.  Gordon,  Novato,  Califor- 
nia. 

62.  Mr.    Herbert    S.    Auerbach,    Salt    Lake 
City,  Utah. 

63.  Mr.    L.    R.    A.    Condit,   Barnum,   Wyo- 
ming. 

64.  Mrs.  E.  L.  Emery,  Reliance,  Wyoming. 

65.  Mrs.  Laura  Kortes,  Hanna,  Wyoming. 

66.  Mrs.   Harry  G.   Lindon,  Deaver,  Wyo- 
ming. 

67.  Colonel  Homer  W.  Wheeler,  Los  An- 
geles, California. 

68.  Mrs.  M.  B.  Nash,  Idaho  Falls,  Idaho. 

69.  Mr.  George  S.  DeWolf,  Casper,  Wyo- 
ming. 

70.  Miss    Marv    Kelsev    Stone,    Charlotte, 
N.  C. 

71.  Congr.   Charles   E.   Winters,  Washing- 
ton, D.  C. 

72.  Mrs.    Charles    E.    Winters,    Washing- 
ton, D.  C. 

73.  Mrs.      Mary      M.      Parmalee,     Buffalo, 
Wyoming. 

74.  Mrs.  Thomas  Hunter,  Cheyenne,  Wyo- 
ming. 

75.  Mr.    E.    A.    Logan,    Cheyenne,    Wyo- 
ming. 

76.  Mrs.      Elizabeth      Logan,      Cheyenne, 
Wyoming. 

77.  Mrs.   Ralph   Kimball,   Cheyenne,  Wyo- 
ming.' 

78.  Mrs.   A.   J.    Parshall,   Cheyenne,   Wyo- 
ming. 

79.  Miss     Anna     M.     Dobbin,     Cheyenne, 
Wyoming. 

80.  Mrs.     Ruth     T.     Shepperton,     Casper, 
Wyoming  (deceased). 

81.  Mr.   Luther  Freeman,  Denver,  Color- 
ado. 

82.  Mr.    I.    S.    Bartlett,    Cheyenne,    Wyo- 
ming (deceased). 

83.  Mr.  John  A.  Martin,  Cheyenne,  Wyo- 
ming. 

84.  Bishop     McGovern,     Cheyenne,    Wyo- 
ming. 

85.  Mr.    J.    C.    Thompson,    Jr.,    Cheyenne, 
Wyoming. 

86.  Mr.  J.  J.  Underwood,  Cheyenne,  Wyo- 
ming. 

87.  Mr.    C.    S.   Thomas,   Cheyenne,  Wyo- 
ming. 

88.  Air.    T.    Joe    Cahill,    Cheyenne,    Wyo- 
ming. 

89.  Mr.     Stephen     Bon,     Cheyenne,    Wyo- 
ming. 

90.  Mrs.    Rose    L.    Bard,    Cheyenne,   Wyo- 
ming. 


77 


91.  Mr.  Charles  T.   Farthing,   Iron   Moun- 
tain, Wyoming. 

92.  Mr.    Ben    F.    Guy,    Chevenne,    Wyo- 
ming. 

93.  Mr.   W.   S.   McGuire,   Cheyenne,  Wyo- 
ming. 

94.  Mr.   Oscar  J.   Lamm,   Cheyenne,  Wyo- 
ming. 

95.  Mr.    Edward   Ordway,   Sr.,   Castroville, 
California. 

96.  Mr.    Norman    D.    King,    Albin,    Wyo- 
ming. 

97.  Mr.  Theodore  Wanerus,  Gillette,  Wyo- 
ming. 

98.  Dr.  T.  Cassidv,  Gillette,  Wyoming. 

99.  Miss  M.  E.  Spaeth,  Gillette,  Wyoming. 

100.  Mrs.    Cyrus    Beard,    Cheyenne,    Wyo- 
ming. 

101.  Captain     N.     G.     Nickerson,     Lander, 
Wyoming. 

102.  Mrs.     L.     C.     Harnsberger,     Lander, 
Wyoming. 

103.  Mrs.  T.  G.  York,  Lander,  Wyoming. 

104.  Mrs.    G.    L.    Lauder,    Laramie,    Wyo- 
ming. 

105.  Mr.  Josh  Dean,  Meeteetse,  Wyoming. 

106.  Mr.    Harry    E.    Cheesman,    Sunshine, 
Wyoming. 

107.  Mr.     Frank     Ingraham,     Cody,    Wyo- 
ming. 

108.  Mrs.     Anna     Dodge     Staggs,     Cody, 
Wyoming. 

109.  Mrs.    J.    M.    Carey,    Cheyenne,    Wyo- 
ming. 

110.  Mr.     Raymond      E.     Herman,     High- 
land Park,  Chicago,  Illinois. 

111.  Mr.  C.  B.  S.  Evans,  Chicago,  Illinois. 

112.  Judge  C.   N.   Potter,  Cheyenne,  Wyo- 
ning. 

113.  Dr.    G.    L.    Strader,    Cheyenne,    Wyo- 
ning. 

^114.   Mrs.    H.    B.    Patten,    Washington,    D. 

115.  Mr.     R.     N.     La  Fontaine,     Cheyenne, 
Wyoming. 

116.  Mr.     W.     E.     Chaplin,     Long    Beach, 
California. 

117.  Mrs.  B.  H.  McCarthy,  Gillette,  Wyo- 
ning. 

118.  Mrs.   W.   R.   Fox,   Gillette,  Wyoming. 

119.  Mrs.  M.  F.  Ryan,  Gillette,  Wyoming. 

120.  Mrs.   Elizabeth   McNish   Pickle,  Cora. 
Wyoming. 

121.  Miss    Ida    S.    Newell,    Casper,    Wyo- 
ning. 

122.  Mr.    J.    Cecil    Alter,    Salt    Lake    City, 
Jtah. 

123.  Mr.  J.  S.  Hunter,  Gillette,  Wyoming. 

124.  Mrs.    Mabel    C.    Boruff,    Kansas    City, 
Missouri. 

125.  Mr.  J.  C.  Burnet,  Wind  River,  Wyo- 
uing. 

126.  Mrs.     Dora     Mertesheimer,     Sapulpa, 
Dklahoma. 

127.  Miss    F,lise    Coble,    Cheyenne,    Wyo- 

128.  Mrs.    Nannie    Steele,    Douglas,    Wyo- 
mng. 

129.  Mr.  D.  W.   Greenburg,  Casper,  Wyo- 
mng. 

130.  Mr.   Errett  O.   Fuller,  Laramie,  Wyo- 
ming. 

131.  Mrs.     Alice     D.     Bainum,     Cheyenne, 
Wyoming. 


132.  Mrs.    J.    H.    Fullerton,    Los    Angeles, 
California. 

133.  Miss      Flo      La  Chapelle,      Cheyenne, 
Wyoming. 

134.  Mr.   John   Huuton,   Torrington,   Wyo- 
ming. 

135.  Mr.  Malcolm  Campbell,  Casper,  Wyo- 
ming. 

136.  Mr.  E.  H.  Fourt,  Lander,  Wyoming. 

137.  Mr.  C.  W.  Horr,  Douglas,  Wyoming. 

138.  Mr.    Wm.    Howard,    Douglas,    Wyo- 
ming. 

139.  Mr.    J.    H.    Kennedy,    Douglas,   Wyo- 
ming. 

140.  Dr.    J.    M.    Wilson,    McKinley,    Wyo- 
ming. 

141.  Mr.  M.  G.  Howe,  Orin,  Wyoming. 

142.  Mr.  L.  J.  Swan,  Douglas,  Wyoming. 
U3.   Mrs.    Edwin    L.    Patrick,    Torrington, 

Wyoming. 

144.  Mrs.  Ella  J.  Peters,  Douglas,  Wyo- 
ming. 

145.  Mr.  J.  M.  Abney,  Careyhurst,  Wyo- 
ming. 

146.  Mr.  Ed.  Arnold,  Lusk,  Wyoming. 

147.  Mrs.  H.  R.  Lathrop,  Casper,  Wyo- 
ming. 

148.  Mr.  J.  C.  Warklev,  Casper,  Wyoming. 

149.  Mrs.  J.  H.  Nichols,  Pasadena,  Cali- 
fornia. 

150.  Mr.  J.  K.  Moore,  Fort  Washakie, 
Wyoming. 

151.  Mrs.  Edward  Ordway,  Castroville. 
California. 

152.  Miss  Minnie  Holden,  Riverside,  Wyo- 
ming. 

153.  Mrs.  Margaret  Hayden,  Cody,  Wyo- 
ming. 

154.  Mr.  T.  J.  Bryant,  Wheatland,  Wyo- 
ming. 

155.  Mr.  J.  .L.  Waller,  Glenrock,  Wyo- 
ming. 

156.  Mrs.  Wallace  C.  Bond,  Cheyenne, 
Wyoming. 

157.  Mrs.  E.  C.  Raymond,  Newcastle, 
Wyoming. 

158.  Mrs.  W.  S.  Kimball,  Casper,  Wyo- 
ming. 

159.  Miss  Evelyn  Jensen,  Cheyenne,  Wyo- 
ming. 

160.  Mr.  W.  Jerome  Dykeman,  Casper, 
Wyoming. 

161.  Mrs.  Mae  D.  Paulsen,  Cheyenne, 
Wyoming. 

162.  Mr.  Paul  J.  Paulsen,  Cheyenne, 
Wvoming. 

163.  Mr.  E.  B.  Shaffner,  Glenrock,  Wyo- 
ming. 

164.  Mr.  Alfred  J.  Mokler,  Casper,  Wyo- 
ming. 

165.  Mr.  J.  M.  Lowndes,  Casper,  Wyo- 
ming. 

166.  Mrs.    Vivien     S.     Richardson,     Lovell. 

167.  Mr.  Charles  R.  Riley,  Bristol,  Con- 
necticut. 

168.  Mr.  Daniel  B.  Henderson,  Wash- 
ington, D.  C. 

169.  Mrs.  Cora  M.  Beach,  Casper,  Wyo- 
ming. 

1/0.  Mr.  Wm.  J.  Malone,  Bristol,  Con- 
necticut. 

171.  County  Superintendent  of  Laramie 
Schoob,  Cheyenne,  WTyo. 


78 


172. 
ming. 

173. 

174. 

175. 
ming. 

176. 
ming. 

177. 
ming. 

178. 

179. 

180. 
Wvom 

181. 

182. 
ming. 

183. 
River, 


Mr.     L.     C.     Bishop,    Douglas,    Wyo- 

Mr.  P.  G.  Fowler,  Lingle,  Wyoming. 
Mr.  George  Clark,  Cheyenne,  Wyo. 
Mr.    O.    N.    Gibson,    Riverton,    Wyo- 

Mr.     George    T.    Beck,    Cody,    Wyo- 

Mr.    H.    B.    Robertson,    Cody,    Wyo- 

Mrs.  Chas.  Stone,  Evanston,  Wyo. 

Mrs.  William  Hines,  Denver,  Colo. 

Mrs.     W.      G.     Johnson,      Crowheart, 

ing. 

Miss  Minnie  Haas,  Cheyenne,  Wyo. 

Mr.    Thomas    Cooper,    Casper,    Wyo- 

Mrs.    John    Stoddard    Logan,    Green 
Wyoming. 


184.  Mr.    Oliver    Hamm,    Sheridan,    Wyo- 
ming. 

185.  Dr.     Laura     White,     Laramie,     Wyo- 
ming. 

186.  Mrs.  Emma  Howell  Knight,  Laramie, 
Wyoming. 

187.  Mrs.   Fred  Boice,  Cheyenne,  Wyo. 

188.  Mr.  Hugh  Pendexter,  Norwav,  Maine. 

189.  Mrs.     Mabel     D.     Cassell,     Greybull, 
Wyo. 

190.  Mrs.  A.  L.  Coev,  Green  River,  Wyo. 

191.  Mrs.     Charles     D.     Carey,     Cheyenne, 
Wyo. 

192.  Mr.  James  Mackay,  Chevenne,  Wyo. 

193.  Mr.  R.  C.  Hargrave,  Cody,  Wyo. 

194.  Miss     Alice     Williamson,     Cheyenne, 
Wvo. 

^  195.   Mrs.     T.     S.     Taliaferro,     Jr.,     Rock 
Springs.  Wyo. 


ACCESSIONS  FROM  JANUARY  1st  TO  APRIL  1st,  1925 


Received  from 
Hunton,    Mr.   John. 
Hebard,  Dr.  G.  R.. 


Moore,   J.    K. 


Documents 

..A  collection  of  67  original  documents,  noticed  elsewhere. 

..Typed  copy  of  original  agreement  betwen  the  firm  "Sub- 
lette &  Campbell"  and  Pittman  Lindlay  for  "hunting, 
trapping  and  trading  with  the  Indians."  Date  April  1, 
1833. 

A  very  large  collection  of  Wyoming  data  dating  from  1900. 
The  collection  includes  correspondence,  statistics,  clip- 
pings, etc.;  while  it  treats  primarily  of  Suffrage  there 
is  also  much  other  valuable  information  for  the  research 
worker.  This  is  a  collection  of  Suffrage  history  which 
was  sent  from  Washington  to  Dr.  Hebard  and  which 
she  presents  to  the  State  Historical  Department. 

.Key  to  Picture  history  of  "Chief  Washakie." 


Historical  Books 

Downing,    C.    O -    Wyoming  Legislative  Proceedings,  2nd  edition. 

Warren,  Senator  F.  E Handbook  of  American   Indians,  by   Bureau  of  Ethnology, 

two  volumes. 

Thomas,  Bishop  N.  S Record  of  Condition — District  of  Wyoming  1919. 

Wyoming  Labor  Journal Bound  Volume  for  1924  of  Labor  Journal. 

Letters 

Moore,  J.  K Corlett  to  J.  K.  Moore  1876  (copy). 

Crain,  C.  N Civil  War  Letter,  1864  (copy). 

Original   Manuscripts 

Rietz,   Mrs.   C.   F One  original  manuscript. 

Dobbins,  Mrs.  Emma  J One  original  manuscript. 

Coolidge,  Mr.  P.  B Two   bound   volumes    10   songs,   words   of  9   songs   by   Mr. 

Coolidge  of  Lander,  music  by  Frederick  Boothroyd. 
Sloan,  Austin  C - Autobiography  of  Wm.  K.  Sloan,  who  crossed  Wvoming  in 

1852. 

Hilton,   Mrs.   Agnes Four  short  manuscripts. 

Bryant,  Mr.  T.  J Biographical  manuscript  of  George  H.  Boswell. 

Knight,   Mrs  Emma   Howell Manuscript. 

Hebard,  Dr.  Grace  R Typescript    copy — Fort    Bridger     (Chambers)     Carlin's    My 

Experiences  in  Wyoming. 

Museum 

Durbin,  Mr.  &  Mrs.  Thomas Five  photos  of  "Buffalo   Company"  Volunteers   for   service 

in  Spanish-American  War.  Major  Wilhelm  mustering 
officer.  Pictures  taken  in  Cheyenne  on  Capitol  Avenue, 
May  10,  1898. 

Rummel,   W.    K One  framed  wall  picture  of  "Jim  Baker." 

Governor  Nellie  T.  Ross Pen  and  penholder  used  by   Governor   Nellie   Tayloe   Ross 

when  she  signed  her  oath  of  office  on  January  5th,  1925. 

Meyer,.  Ed One  tin  "McKinley"  campaign  badge. 

Conologue,  Moneta Indian  whetstone  found  on  the  divide  between  N.  &  S.  Elk- 
horn  Creeks  near  the  John  Moran  ranch,  a  perfect 
specimen,  found  August  19th,  1924. 


79 


ACCESSIONS— (Continued) 

Cristobal,  Leopold  G Collection  of  160  coins,  silver,  nickel  and  gold. 

10  gold  coins,  from  England,  Germany,  Sweden,  Holland 
and  France. 

5  silver  and  copper  and  nickel  coins  from  Sweden. 

3,  one    Belgium,    one    silver    Franc    (old)    1    (new)    nickel 

Franc,  substitute  for  silver. 
2,  one  British  India,  two,  1  Rupee  pieces,  silver. 

6  Checkoslavokia,  4  silver,  2  copper. 

13,  Italian,  2  silver  20  centimes,  3  copper,  5,  10  and  1  cen- 
times, 8  nickel  pieces,  2  lire,  50  centimes,  four  20  cen- 
times. 

1,  Yugaslovonia. 

8,  Denmark  1,  2  and  5  ore  (copper)  10,  25  ore  (nickel),  three 
10  ore  pieces. 

1,  Mexico,  1  silver  dollar. 

15,  France,  5  in  silver,  1  copper,  6  in  nickel,  1  aluminum, 
2  copper  and  aluminum. 

18,  Austria  Hungary,  no  value  and  no  longer  used.  Five  are 
iron  used  during  war  because  of  lack  of  copper,  6  are 
copper,  1  silver,  6  nickel. 

24,  Germany,  silver,  bronze-copper,  iron,  nickel  and  alum- 
inum. 

5,  Switzerland,  4  silver,  1  copper. 

4,  Polish-Poland,  2  bronze,  2  copper. 

8,  Norway,  1  silver,  2  copper,  2  nickel,  3  iron. 

2,  Canada,  silver  5  and  10  cents. 

13,  England,  silver,  2  half-crowns,  1  florin,   1  shilling,  3  six- 
pence, 2  3  cents,  2  copper  half-penny,  2  copper,  1  penny. 
22,  Netherlands,  three   1   Gulden,  six  25  cents,  six  10  cents, 

all  silver;  two  2y2  cents,  two  1  cent,  one  nickel  piece. 
A  large  part  of  this  collection  is  from  the  coins  used  in  the 
World  War. 

IVesche,  Mr.  E Photo  of  Wyoming  officers  in  the  Spanish-American  War. 

Picture  taken  in  Manilla. 
Two   water   color   pictures    (large)    of   the   first   and   second 
battles  of  Manilla  Bay.     Pictures  are  the  work  of  Mr. 
Wesche. 

rlartzell,   William Three  rifle  shells,  two  shells  to  be  used  in  French  revolver 

(old),    no    longer    used.      Shell    for    Spencer    Repeater, 
1865. 

Hebard,  Dr.  Grace  R Picture  of  Fort  Laramie,  Idaho  Territory. 

Sec'y  of  State,  F.  E.  Lucas Large  framed  wall  picture  of  F.  E.  Mondell. 

War   History 
Adjutant  Gen.,  W.  F.Davis Pension   Commissioners  Report,  Volume  2,  1861-1865   Con- 
federate Kentucky  Volume. 

Major  C.  G.  Carroll History  of  Army  Posts  by  Major  Rudd,  U.  S.  A. 

Myers,  Mr.  Ed Defensive  measures  against  Gas  attacks,  1917 — confidential. 

Wire  entanglements,  1918 — official. 
Field  Service  Regulations,  U.  S.  A.  1918. 
Infantry  Drill  Regulations,   1918 — confidential. 
The  Deck  and  Boat  Book  of  U.  S.  A.  1917. 

Senator  F.  E.  Warren Historical  Register  and  Dictionary  of  the  U.  S.  Army,  1789- 

K03.     Heitman,  2  volumes. 
Beach,  Mrs.  A.  H A.  L-  A.  Dept.  of  Wyoming,  General  Bulletin  No.  5. 

Purchased 

Cowboys  North  and  South,  by  Will  James. 

Down  the  Yellowstone,  by  Freeman. 

Ethnology  Bureau  Report,  1897,  2  volumes. 

One  group  photo  of  Governor  Ross  signing  oath  of  office. 

One  group  photo  of  the  Collier  Vote  Trophy,  showing  Governor  Ross,  President  Brown 
of  Senate,  Speaker  Underwood  of  the  House,  Mayor  Allison  of  Cheyenne  and  Brad- 
ford Ross,  who  unveiled  the  Trophy. 

Dne  photo  of  Capitol  Building  taken  from  Airplane. 

Five  photos  of  Fort  Bridger  (old). 

IVo  photos  of  Fort  Laramie  in  1899. 

3ne  1875  map  (Watson)  of  Wyoming,  Colorado,  Utah  and  Montana. 

Photostatic  copies  of  addresses  on  envelopes  and  two  letters  signed  bv  Admiral  Dewey 
after  the  battles  of  Manilla  Bay,  1898.  These  letters  are  written  to  Mr.  Wesche,  com- 
plimenting him  on  his  paintings  of  the  two  battles  of  Manilla  Bay. 


NOTICE 

Membership  in  Wyoming  State  Historical 
Society 

Annual  dues  one  dollar  ($1.00)  paid  in  ad- 
vance. 

The  dues  entitle  members  to  all  publications 
of  the  Department  for  the  year  without  further 
assessments. 

Notice  of  delinquency  will  be  sent  from 
State  Historical  Department. 

When  checks  are  used  make  payable  to 
State  Historical  Society  or  to  State  Historian. 

Address  :  State  Historian,  Room  305,  Capitol 
Building-,  Cheyenne,  Wyoming. 


UNIVERSITY   OF  WYOMING 


Ulfll 


DD    135    7ED    b 


% 


VI 


% 


<:.'  :t*<